
© AFP.The Vatican's UN Ambassador, Monsignor Silvano Tomasi (L), and former Vatican Chief Prosecutor of Clerical Sexual Abuse Charles Scicluna are at the hearing.
The Vatican is being confronted publicly for the first time over the sexual abuse of children by clergy, at a UN hearing in Geneva.
The Church was asked why it continued to describe such abuse as an offense against morals rather than a crime against children.
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said such crimes could "never be justified" and every child should be "inviolable".
The Vatican earlier refused a request for data on abuse.
When it argued that such cases should be heard in the countries where they took place, it was accused of responding inadequately to abuse allegations.
This is the first time the Holy See is defending itself in public over its record on sex abuse.
Victims say they hope the hearing, which is being broadcast live, will prompt the Church to end its "secrecy".
Pope Francis announced last month that a Vatican committee would be set up to fight sexual abuse of children in the Church and offer help to victims. He also broadened the definition of crimes against minors to include sexual abuse of children.
The Holy See is a signatory to the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a legally binding instrument which commits it to protecting and nurturing the most vulnerable in society.
Comment: First the Quenelle, now this. Who says the Frenchies don't have a sense of humor?