Vatican rep: Countries must respect rights while coping with refugees

Published: 2007-10-02

GENEVA (CNS) -- Countries must find better ways to respect human rights in their efforts to cope with the growing number of refugees and displaced people, said the Vatican's representative to international agencies based in Geneva. The increasing number of people fleeing their homes because of persecution, conflict or severe poverty has resulted in frustration for the international community, public anxiety and "emotional political reactions," said Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican official. He told members of the executive committee of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Oct. 2 that nations should tackle the refugee problem from "a human rights approach." "Regrettably, the number of refugees has increased again to some 10 million persons, and internally displaced people to well over 24 million," he said.

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