The Philippines peace process is “guided by President Duterte’s directive to ensure the inclusivity and convergence of the two peace agreements with MNLF and MILF into one Bangsamoro Peace Process,” Ambassador Locsin said at the High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace convened by the President of the General Assembly on 05 September 2018 in New York.

 

05 September 2018, New York City – The Bangsamoro peace process represents the desire of the Bangsamoro people and the larger Filipino community to take ownership of peacebuilding achieved through continuing dialogue, confidence-building and mutual trust.

In his statement delivered at a High-Level Forum (HLF) on the Culture of Peace convened today at the UN, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. stressed that the Philippine peace process is not only anchored on President Duterte’s Six-Point Peace and Development Agenda but also guided by his directive “to ensure the inclusivity and convergence of the two peace agreements with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) into one Bangsamoro Peace Process.”

“For Filipinos promoting a culture of peace is a natural,” Ambassador Locsin said. “We have been victims of atrocities in two wars…But we never committed mass atrocities no matter the provocation.”

The Permanent Representative also delivered a Statement on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that affirmed ASEAN’s Declaration on Culture of Prevention as a way of pursuing “a credible pathway to sustaining peace” through six (6) key thrusts in conformity with the purposes and principles of the ASEAN Charter.

The thrusts focus on promoting a culture of peace and intercultural understanding; respect for all; good governance at all levels; resilience and care for the environment; healthy lifestyle; and supporting the values of moderation.

“With over 630 million people, ASEAN embraces a culture of peace as a core value of a politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, people-oriented and people-centered community,” Ambassador Locsin said.

The HLF’s aim was to “highlight emerging trends that impact on the realization of a culture of peace and to enable Member States and other stakeholders to exchange ideas on further promoting a culture peace.”

Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum, 1992 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (Guatemala) and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, delivered the Forum’s keynote address focusing on her experiences as a peace advocate and commending the work of civil society in advancing a culture of peace in post-conflict areas.

H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajćák, President of the General Assembly, also addressed the participants stating that “We cannot achieve a culture of peace from a hall like this. We need to take action on the ground…and we need new approaches.”

Over 40 Member and Observer States delivered their respective interventions during the High-Level Forum. END