New York, 25 January 2017 --The Philippine peace process took center stage at separate highlevel

meetings at the United Nations on January 23 and 24 in New York.

Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Secretary Jesus G. Dureza addressed the

General Assembly at the High-Level Dialogue on "Building Sustainable Peace for all: Synergies

between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustaining Peace" in the morning of

January 24. The event was presided over by the President of the UN General Assembly Peter

Thomson, and also featured UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, UN Security Council

President Margot Wallstrom (Sweden), and UN Economic and Social Council President Frederick

Makamure Shava (Zimbabwe) as speakers.

 

In his address, Secretary Dureza shared updates on the various peace tables in the

Philippines, in particular with the Bangsamoro and the CC/NPA/NDF, as well .as President

Rodrigo Duterte's comprehensive peace and development framework that links sustainable

development as a component of sustaining peace.

"The Philippines is one with the global community in affirming that sustainable

development cannot be realized without peace and security, and peace and security will be at

risk without sustainable development," the Secretary said.

The Secretary cited the immense human, social and economic costs, especially from

among the most vulnerable sectors of society, of the decades-long armed conflicts waged

by different armed groups in the Philippines. He stated that the challenges in forging peace

are made more complex by growing intolerance and violent extremism.

Secretary Dureza said President Duterte's peace and development agenda for the next

six years aims to secure the gains of the peace process that have been achieved thus far by

ensuring inclusivity, continuing dialogue, confidence building and the convergence of efforts

among the different stakeholders. He cited in particular "the bigger peace table" where the Filipino

people may come together to discuss and/or contribute to the peace agreements negotiated on

their behalf by government with transparency and inclusivity.

In parallel with the peace talks, Secretary Dureza stressed the importance of improving

the human security conditions of the communities long affected by the armed conflict.

"We envision an empowered people, instilled with a sense of responsibility and

accountability and the ability to resist violence and transform conflicts, to form the bedrock of

sustainable peace and development," he concluded.