VATICAN CITY
Vatican Radio
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations will lead a delegation in Geneva Tuesday at a second meeting of the UN Committee on the Convention against Torture (CAT) to which the Holy See acceded in 2002. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi led the Holy See’s delegation in a meeting of the Committee Monday to present a report on the implementation of CAT in Vatican City State – a periodic commitment for each of the Convention’s 155 signatory states.
In remarks to the Committee Monday, Archbishop Tomasi reiterated the Holy See’s conviction that the Convention against Torture is “a valid and suitable instrument for fighting against acts that constitute a serious offence against the dignity of the human person” and that “the teaching of the Catholic Church clearly articulates its opposition to acts of violence and torture.”
The Holy See’s report outlined “significant steps and improvements” made to Vatican City State legislation in compliance with the Convention and which further reinforce the Holy See’s commitment to respecting CAT.
The report mentions in particular, the promulgation of Pope Francis’ July 11, 2013 Apostolic Letter “On the Jurisdiction of Judicial Authorities of Vatican City State in Criminal Matters” which incorporates portions of CAT “practically verbatim” and makes specific reference to the “Crime of Torture” (art. 3, Law N. VIII). Other amendments described in that Letter regard the specific nature of crimes committed within or outside the territory of the State, jurisdiction, extradition and terms of sentencing.
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