Order of Malta endorses Pope Francis' message to WHS
(Vatican Radio) One of the
main goals at the heart of the first ever UN World Humanitarian Summit that
has just wrapped up in Istanbul is to reaffirm the principles at the heart of
humanitarian action: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.
These principles are also at
the heart of the mission of the Sovereign Order of Maltainvited by
the United Nations to participate in the consultations that gave life to the
Summit and then to participate in the Summit itself.
Albrecht Boeselager, Grand
Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta, has been working for over a year with the preparatory committees of
the Summit. In Istanbul he has been present at many of the Summit meetings and
roundtables with a series of concrete commitments including the continuation of
provision of first aid to migrants on board the Italian Naval ships in the
Mediterranean and using its diplomatic network to provide support in
implementing humanitarian aid and to promote dialogue.
Speaking to Vatican
Radio on the last day of the event, Albrecht Boeselager said it is too
early to judge the outcome of the Summit: “it has to be judged later by the
action taken by the different players in the humanitarian field”:
Boeselager says he believes
the summit itself was a timely initiative as humanitarian issues are increasing
at this time. He points out that “many questions are being raised, respect for
humanitarian law is declining and a greater solidarity between nations is
urgently requested”
The Grand Chancellor says he
is particularly concerned about the declining respect in the world for
humanitarian law and for the fundamental principles upheld in the Geneva
conventions.
“That’s why – he says –
preparing for the Summit the Order of Malta took the initiative of drawing the
attention of the nations and the UN to the great importance of religious
communities and the humanitarian values embedded in religion and asked for more
consideration for the potential of religious communities for humanitarian aid
and humanitarian action”.
He expressed satisfaction for
the fact that this perspective became an issue at the Summit with a series of
dedicated events dealing with the specific question.
Boeselager also expressed
satisfaction with the fact that the papers drawn up by the preparatory group in
which the Order had a decisive influence have been passed and will be
published.
Asked what are the main
obstacles and problems between the actors involved in providing humanitarian
assistance – States, NGOS and other organizations - that prevent a unified and
more effective approach and action, Boeselager said there are a lot of
challenges and problems.
“I already mentioned the
disregard for humanitarian principles: this has to do with the changing scenarios
of armed conflicts. Less international conflicts between countries and regular
armies but so- called ‘asymmetric conflicts’ where armies, armed groups and
terrorists are fighting. They have not signed the humanitarian conventions and
their fighters are not educated about humanitarian principles” he said.
He points out that another
obstacle in the path of organizing and delivering aid in a harmonious and
integrated way is the fact that even some States do not always show respect for
these principles:
“We have seen the bombing of
hospitals, attacks on humanitarian helpers and also means of modern
warfare like drones are very questionable, and also the tendency in the West to
accept what are euphemistically called ‘collateral damages’ which strike civilians”
he said.
Another problem, according to
Boeselager, especially regarding the migration and refugee question is an
increasing “popularism and isolationism which lead to a declining solidarity
between different nations and impede a coherent strategic action which is
needed to deal with the problems”.
Regarding Pope Francis’
message to the summit on the opening day, Boeselager says it was a strong one
containing many significant messages:
“I think one of the strongest
messages is that more has to be done to prevent conflicts, to go to tackle the
root causes for conflicts, and that’s certainly true. Many of these conflicts
we are observing now have roots which go back for many years. The other message
which is coherent with so many other messages the Pope has delivered
regards the interests of businesses, financial interests, personal political
influence that lead to the disregard of humanitarian principles and the real
interests of mankind” he said.
“I think the Holy Father is
one of the few, if not the only remaining moral authority that really has a
real impact on the world and so cannot be underestimated.”
(Linda Bordoni)
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