" Vaccines must be available to all , especially in areas of conflict and in humanitarian contexts".
This was stated by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in his speech at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
"Resilience requires a renewed scrutiny of" health systems "overwhelmed by the pandemic and which have left so many without sufficient care or any cure. Even today many do not have access to tests, basic care or vaccines, or even the energy infrastructure that would make it possible. Such cures. Resilience requires an examination of the fragility and shortcomings of our economic systems, which have left many behind due to the severe economic crisis and recession and made the poor even more vulnerable, "he stressed.
He then spoke of the international diplomatic situation and in particular of the Middle East, reiterating the appeal of the Holy See for "a global ceasefire": "The recent worsening of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing political tensions in Syria and Lebanon , as in other places, are a stark reminder of the impact that conflicts have on peoples and nations. The Holy See - Parolin explained - invites States to pay attention to the appeal of the Secretary General and Pope Francis for a global ceasefire and for a shared humanitarian responsibility ".
The Vatican also asks to stop the race for nuclear weapons and biological and chemical weapons: "The threat of nuclear weapons, possessed under the pretext of deterrence" in reality "poisons relations between peoples, hinders dialogue, undermines hope. Humanitarian and security issues require us to put an end to the nuclear arms race - he added - and to take effective action towards nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and prohibition. The entry into force last January of the Prohibition Treaty of Nuclear Weapons is an important step forward. The hope of the Holy See is firm that this will also stimulate progress in the implementation of the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons ".
Finally, he criticized the "new interpretations of human rights" and "the new rights", which would be in contradiction with true values and which "are imposed despite the absence of international consensus".
"The new partial interpretations sadly become the ideological point of reference for a spurious 'progress', generating divisions. In this way the protection of fundamental human rights is undermined: the right to life, freedom of thought, conscience and religion and freedom of opinion and expression ", concluded the Vatican Secretary of State.
(Unioneonline / F)
