“The urgent need for significant and tangible progress is underlined by the catastrophic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons, as well as the social and economic costs of perpetuating them. ” – Ambassador Manalo at the General Debate of the UN First Committee, 09 October.
10 November 2020, New York City – Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the First Committee of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly has today concluded its work. The Philippines served as the Vice-Chair of this year’s First Committee Bureau. The month-long session, whose organizational meeting was held on 6 October 2020, proceeded with vigor until its conclusion despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the 71 draft resolutions and decisions of the First Committee, the Philippines co-sponsored 20 draft resolutions in its national capacity and 8 draft resolutions in its capacity as member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), for a total of 28 co-sponsorships. Of the 28 co-sponsorships, the Philippines co-sponsored 12 resolutions that address the need to eliminate nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. It co-sponsored the draft resolution on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and the draft resolution entitled Towards a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World: Accelerating the Implementation of Nuclear Disarmament Commitments. The TPNW was ratified by a 50th country, Honduras, on 24 October 2020, paving the way for the treaty’s entry into force after 90 days. The Philippines also co-sponsored the draft resolution on Measures to Prevent Terrorists from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Philippine support for these resolutions is in line with the pronouncements of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. In his first address at the United Nations on 23 September 2020, President Duterte stated that “There is no excuse for deaths that a nuclear war could cause nor the reckless use of chemical and biological weapons that can cause mass destruction.” He added that “These weapons of death put us all at mortal risk, especially if they fall in the hands of terrorists without a shred of humanity in their souls.”
During the session, the Philippine delegation advocated for the implementation of strong regulations covering conventional weapons. For instance, the Philippines co-sponsored the draft resolution on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and supported the draft resolution on the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons. The Philippines sees the need to address the threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), particularly by armed non-state actors and terrorists.
The Philippines voted yes on the draft decision on the convening of the UN Disarmament Commission, of which the Philippines has been nominated to serve as Vice Chair in 2021. The Philippines also supported a strengthened international cooperation on cybersecurity by voting in favor of two draft resolutions that mandate the continuation of the work of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security. The Philippines also expressed its recognition that the outer space is threatened with its potential weaponization and an arms race. As in previous years, it voted in favor of draft resolutions on No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space, as well as the new resolution on Reducing Space Threats through Norms, Rules, and Principles of Responsible Behaviours.
The 71 resolutions and decisions will be sent to the General Assembly Plenary for adoption later this year.
In his closing remarks, First Committee Chair Agustin Santos Maraver (Spain) said, “We need to convey to the victims of weapons of mass destruction that we have fulfilled our mandate to the best of our abilities.” He added that delegations “showed that it is possible to rationally move forward towards a world free of war” despite the challenges spawned by the pandemic.
At the commencement of the session, on 09 October 2020, Ambassador Manalo stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic should prompt Member States to redouble efforts and continue pursuing forward-looking, action-oriented outcomes to fully implement the obligations in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He also emphasized the critical importance of building trust and confidence in all areas of disarmament.
The First Committee is mandated to discuss disarmament, global challenges and threats to peace that affect the international community and seeks out solutions to the challenges in the international security regime. END.