Holy See diplomat praises draft UN document on violated children 
June 13, 2011
The representative of the Holy See at UN offices in Geneva offered praise for a draft document that would establish a procedure under which child victims of child trafficking, pornography, or prostitution could communicate that their rights have been violated. "The Holy See looks at this new Optional Protocol to the Convention of the Rights of the Child to provide a communication procedure as an opportune contribution to strengthening the human rights system," said Archbishop Silvano Tomasi. "May it also bring us closer to our ultimate goal: the unconditional preservation and respect of the dignity of every single person, woman or man, adult or child."
The document "provides a word of hope and encouragement to those children and young people whose innocence and human dignity have been wounded by the cruelty that can be present in the world of adults," he added. "If all States, UN agencies, civil society and faith-based institutions work together in a more effective partnership, they will be able to ensure love, care and assistance to those affected by violence and abuse."
Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
- Draft Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (VIS)
- Address of the Holy See at the 17th Ordinary Session of the Human Rights Council on the Rights of the Child: Adolescence should be protected
- Council holds debate on Human Rights Bodies and discusses report on draft Protocol to Convention on Rights of the Child (UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights)
- Revised proposal for a draft optional protocol (UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights)
Christians fleeing Eritrea face horrible suffering in Egypt
June 13, 2011
Eritreans who have fled one of the world's most repressive regimes are facing unimaginable suffering once they arrive in Egypt, where an estimated 200 have fallen into the hands of human traffickers. "They are in great danger from their government, which is one of the most severe persecutors of Christians in the world, and if they flee in the hope of a better life elsewhere, they face imprisonment, kidnap, torture, rape, beatings and even death," said Patrick Sookhdeo, the international director of the Barnabas Fund, which provides aid to persecuted Christians. In addition, some refugees have reportedly had their organs harvested.
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