Pope's representative at U.N. session: Empower women

The Vatican supports the empowering of women, as expressed by the representative of Pope Francis to the United Nations.

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Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke on March 18 during the deliberations at the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

"Empowering women means creating the conditions necessary for them to flourish, in full acceptance of and in accordance with their natural genius as women, and in harmonious complementarity with the gifts of men," Archbishop Auza said, as quoted by the Catholic News Agency.

Auza put emphasis on the important role of women in peacekeeping, mediation and preventive diplomacy. He also mentioned that there is a growing presence of women in advocacy organizations and policy-making bodies. 

However, he also noted that mothers and elderly women tend to be overlooked. The former's efforts and contribtion to the society's development, he said, are not "adequately acknowledged, appreciated, advanced and defended"; while the latter must be allowed to feel productive by making use of their wisdom.

Moreover, he said that even unborn girls are discriminated as processes like in-vitro fertilization and abortion allow parents to "selectively eliminate girls." 

"Empowering women and girls will greatly help the world community not to leave anyone behind, and their empowerment will empower us all," he said.

The Commission on the Status of Women is focused on "the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. ... Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women's enjoyment of their rights in political, economic and social fields."

The 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women of the United Nations was held at the New York headquarters of the U.N. from March 14 to 24. The session's priority theme was "Women's empowerment and its link to sustainable development." 

Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke on March 18 during the deliberations at the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

"Empowering women means creating the conditions necessary for them to flourish, in full acceptance of and in accordance with their natural genius as women, and in harmonious complementarity with the gifts of men," Archbishop Auza said, as quoted by the Catholic News Agency.

Auza put emphasis on the important role of women in peacekeeping, mediation and preventive diplomacy. He also mentioned that there is a growing presence of women in advocacy organizations and policy-making bodies. 

However, he also noted that mothers and elderly women tend to be overlooked. The former's efforts and contribtion to the society's development, he said, are not "adequately acknowledged, appreciated, advanced and defended"; while the latter must be allowed to feel productive by making use of their wisdom.

Moreover, he said that even unborn girls are discriminated as processes like in-vitro fertilization and abortion allow parents to "selectively eliminate girls." 

"Empowering women and girls will greatly help the world community not to leave anyone behind, and their empowerment will empower us all," he said.

The Commission on the Status of Women is focused on "the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. ... Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women's enjoyment of their rights in political, economic and social fields."

The 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women of the United Nations was held at the New York headquarters of the U.N. from March 14 to 24. The session's priority theme was "Women's empowerment and its link to sustainable development."