New York -- The persecution of Christians in the Middle East, including Syria, has drawn renewed international attention during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

US President Donald Trump devoted part of his 22 September address to the persecution of Christians around the world. He said Christians "are being persecuted all over the world," describing the issue as a consequence of actions by what he called some of the world's most repressive regimes. He also criticized the United Nations Human Rights Council for what he described as insufficient attention to the issue.

The issue was also addressed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin during his 26 September address to the General Assembly. Parolin called on the international community to restore trust, strengthen dialogue and pursue joint action while emphasizing the protection of religious freedom and the rights of vulnerable communities.

Parolin specifically addressed the Christian presence in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East, saying it should not only be safeguarded as the continuation of a historic presence but also encouraged by the international community. He said Christians aspire to be an active force for peace, spirituality and culture within the diverse societies of the Levant, where Christianity originated.

He also condemned discrimination, violence, and persecution against Christians in various parts of the world, including attacks on churches, the displacement of communities and the killing or imprisonment of believers. Parolin said the Holy See's defense of Christians is part of its broader defense of religious freedom as a fundamental human right.

On Lebanon, Parolin welcomed the signing of the trilateral framework agreement between the United States, Israel, and Lebanon, aimed at stabilizing Lebanon's southern border and establishing a just and lasting peace. He nevertheless expressed concern over difficulties in implementing the agreement and called on the parties to respect its provisions, sovereignty, and borders.

Parolin also addressed conflicts and humanitarian crises in several countries, including Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gaza. He called for an end to violence, greater reliance on dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and protection for vulnerable populations, including children, women and displaced people.

The attention to the situation of Christians in the Middle East comes weeks after a Brussels conference on the future of Syria's Christians, organized by the European Syriac Union (ESU) at the European Parliament in cooperation with European and international organizations concerned with religious freedom. The conference brought together political representatives as well as Christian and Assyrian organizations.

The conference focused on calls to guarantee the rights of Christians to justice and equal citizenship, enshrine their rights in the Syrian constitution, ensure their representation in government institutions and strengthen their role in political decision-making.

Participants also raised the issue of community self-protection forces for Christian communities and regions, presenting them as part of broader demands for security and protection amid continued concerns over attacks and displacement.

The discussions at the UN and the Brussels conference have placed the future of Christians in Syria and the wider Middle East within broader international discussions over religious freedom, political participation, security and the rights of minority communities.