Holy See: 'We need effective measures to prevent war crimes'

By Pierfrancesco Loreto

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke at the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity.

In his address, Archbishop Caccia stressed that “violations of the sanctity of human life persist and, in many contexts, appear to be increasing.”

“The continued absence of effective collective responses is not without consequence: children, women, and members of ethnic and religious minorities continue to suffer persecution, violence, and death, in ways that profoundly wound human dignity and the moral conscience of humanity," he said.

In this context, the Holy See welcomes the work of the Preparatory Committee and appreciates the opportunity it offers to deal with one of the most significant challenges facing humanity.

According to the Archbishop, the main issue is not the recognition of these crimes, but “the development of effective measures to prevent their commission and to ensure accountability when they occur.”

It is common ground that war crimes are forbidden under customary international law and that any future international framework should be based on international law itself and include appropriate safeguards for victims and witnesses.

A constructive dialogue leading to an effective response

As Pope Leo XIV has observed, “To engage in dialogue, there needs to be agreement on the words and concepts that are used. Rediscovering the meaning of words is perhaps one of the primary challenges of our time.”

At the same time, Archbishop Caccia noted that “international cooperation plays a key role, both in addressing the transnational dimensions of such crimes and in supporting those States that lack the capacity to fulfil their obligations effectively.”

The Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the UN stated that “such cooperation should strengthen, rather than weaken, the principles of complementarity, due process, and full respect for fundamental human rights.”

The primary focus should remain on victims as “we need to make sure that their voices are heard and their dignity upheld while ensuring fair procedures and full respect for fundamental human rights.”, he added.

In conclusion, Archbishop Caccia emphasized that the Holy See looks forward to a constructive dialogue leading to an effective and lasting response to crimes against humanity.