The Vatican supports plans to create a legally binding, global treaty on crimes against humanity. Vatican Archbishop Gabriele Caccia said this on Monday in New York.
Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has called for a ban on nuclear weapons and a cancellation of the foreign debts of countries in the global south at the UN.
According to the Holy See diplomat, such an international convention would “certainly facilitate international cooperation in the prevention and punishment of these heinous acts.” However, the definition of these crimes must be “deeply rooted in customary international law,” said Caccia. When defining such crimes, one should “not deviate from existing customary law norms,” otherwise the effectiveness of the new instrument would be at risk.
In this regard, Caccia notes with palpable suspicion that the draft agreement omits the definition of gender formulated in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The lack of a clear definition of gender “based on the biological reality of the two sexes” would hinder the prosecution of crimes against women, “such as rape, sexual slavery and forced prostitution.”
The papal special representative for peace in Ukraine, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, began his second mediation trip to Moscow this Monday. Press spokesman…
Respect state sovereignty and immunity of foreign officials
Archbishop Caccia also warned that efforts to prevent and punish “crimes against humanity” must respect the sovereignty of other states. “Any new convention should therefore be guided by established precedents and build on the obligation of States Parties to prosecute crimes within their own borders and to cooperate in extradition of perpetrators and assistance to victims.”
The Curia diplomat expressly recalled the “norms for the procedural immunity of foreign officials”. “This immunity, which derives from state sovereignty and the principle of non-interference, is essential for peaceful and friendly relations between states.” Caccia made the remarks at the meeting of a UN committee drafting a convention on “crimes against humanity.” worked out.
(vatican news – sk)
