A right to humanitarian intervention?

Geneva--Wars are the cause of the plight of millions of refugees worldwide, an emergency that can be adequately addressed only by resolving the conflicts, says the Holy See. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy See's permanent observer at the United Nations in Geneva, appealed for recourse, when necessary, to humanitarian intervention, in order to guarantee the fundamental rights of refugees.

He delivered that message when addressing a session of the Executive Committee of the Program of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees held October 4-8, 2004. He spoke about the rights of refugees, repatriation that is "voluntary", and international action needed to ensure the security and well-being of refugees.

He quoted John Paul II as saying, "Every person needs a safe environment in which to live. Refugees aspire to this but, unfortunately, millions in various countries of the world are still living in refugee camps or prevented for long periods from fully exercising their rights."

The rights accorded "to the refugees in international instruments too often remain mere words," Archbishop Tomasi told his audience. "Continuing warfare still obliges numerous people to leave their homes because of fear of persecution, human rights violations, harassment, and widespread violence with a systematic use of rape as a war tactic," he said. "The cost of such forced movements is very high: the sufferings of people, the loss of lives, the process of eventually rebuilding society," said Archbishop Tomasi, a member of the Scalabrini Missionaries who until recently was apostolic nuncio in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

"International human rights and humanitarian law oblige governments to provide for the security and well-being of all those under their jurisdiction," the prelate told his listeners. "In particular, each citizen has a right to protection by his or her country. If, however, a state fails to or cannot take this responsibility, and the human rights of a population continue to be trampled upon, then the international community can and should assert its concern, step in, and take on this obligation."

The Vatican delegate referred to John Paul II's Message for World Day of Peace in January 2000, in which he addressed the question of 'humanitarian intervention.' On that occasion, the Pope said clearly, "When a civilian population risks being overcome by the attacks of an unjust aggressor and political efforts and nonviolent defence prove to be of no avail, it is legitimate and even obligatory to take concrete measures to disarm the aggressor."

"These measures, however, must be limited in time and precise in their aims," Archbishop Tomasi said, continuing to quote the Holy Father. "They must be carried out in full respect for international law, guaranteed by an authority that is internationally recognized and, in any event, never left to the outcome of armed intervention alone."

"The fullest and the best use must therefore be made of all the provisions of the United Nations Charter, further defining effective instruments and modes of intervention within the framework of international law. In this regard, the United Nations Organization itself must offer all its member states an equal opportunity to be part of the decision-making process, eliminating privileges and discriminations which weaken its role and its credibility."

"The timeliness of this intervention is critical to save lives and a test of the international community's commitment to the cause of refugees," concluded the Vatican representative in Geneva. " ... it is measures like these that will help people separated from homes or their land to find a place to live that recognizes their human dignity and their right to security and peace."

In an interview published on Sept. 22 in the Turin newspaper La Stampa, Cardinal Angelo Sodano revealed that in the context of the process of U.N. reform, the Holy See will propose the addition of a new principle, "humanitarian intervention," to the U.N. Charter. (Zenit, Oct. 11, 2004)