Thank you, Mr. Chair,

At the outset, our delegation congratulates you on your election to preside over the 2024 Substantive Session of the United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC).

The Philippines aligns itself with the ASEAN statement delivered by Laos and the NAM statement delivered by Indonesia.

On Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

The UN Disarmament Commission remains unique as this is the only platform where all UN Member States are present to make recommendations for achieving the objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The result of the last cycle of the UNDC under Working Group One was disheartening, but our delegation remains hopeful that so long as Member States keep genuine engagement, the UNDC’s outcome would positively contribute to the Second Session of the PrepCom, and the Third Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW. We take note of the robust discussions in the last cycle of the UNDC and although we did not have an agreed outcome document for Working Group One, we believe that many issues threshed out in the last cycle would remain useful in our discussions in this cycle.

We share grave concerns over the nuclear rhetoric and the continued modernization and refinement of nuclear weapon capabilities. The lowering of the threshold of nuclear weapons sharpens the urgency of efforts to reduce the risk of nuclear use. We emphasize however that nuclear risk reduction is only a pathway towards – and not an alternative to – complete nuclear disarmament. Any agreement on risk reduction must recognize that risks emanate from the very existence of nuclear weapons itself, and that any efforts to reduce such risks must never legitimize the continued existence of nuclear weapons nor serve as a substitute for tangible progress in fulfilling nuclear disarmament obligations.

We reiterate the urgent need for transparency and accountability of NWS for their disarmament obligations under the NPT through benchmarks, concrete, measurable, and timebound actions on nuclear disarmament with established deadlines, and reporting their implementation of these obligations to the NPT Review Conference. It must be done in a structured manner that allows non-NWS to engage constructively on their reports.

We join ASEAN in our continued support to the full and effective implementation of other relevant efforts, including UNSC Resolution 1540 and the UN Secretary General’s Agenda for Disarmament to advance nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in a concrete, holistic, and integrated manner. In this regard, we are pleased to share that the Philippines and Singapore, along with Palau,  will undertake this year a peer review exercise on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its adoption.

On Emerging Technologies

Mr. Chair,

The development and application of emerging technologies for peaceful purposes can bring significant benefits, including supporting multilaterally agreed priorities like the SDGs. These technologies can enhance peacekeeping operations, improve early warning systems, facilitate humanitarian assistance, and aid in conflict resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding.

To deploy emerging technologies in a manner that safeguards international peace and security, it is crucial to ensure that these technologies are used in ways that respect the core principles of the United Nations. This involves promoting responsible research and innovation, adhering to international law, and addressing governance frameworks effectively.

Despite their benefits, emerging technologies can have a disruptive impact by increasing the risks of miscalculation, misunderstandings, and misperceptions. This underscores the importance of comprehensive governance frameworks, multi-stakeholder dialogues involving experts from various sectors, and evidence-based analysis to mitigate these risks.

Mr. Chair,

The Philippines is concerned about possible duplications in intergovernmental discussions on specific technologies related to international security within the UN. In this regard, we need to ensure that we establish clear mandates for each discussion forum in the relevant UN processes so that we can avoid overlapping discussion and prevent redundancies in our efforts.

We see the value of letting the UNDC take a comprehensive approach to emerging technologies in the context of international security by addressing technologies that have not yet been discussed in dedicated intergovernmental processes. We also welcome proposals and ideas on possible synergies between different technologies while ensuring a holistic understanding of their implications to international peace and security.

We welcome discussions on various aspects of emerging technologies in the field of international peace and security to build common understandings that facilitate collective action. However, given the time constraint, we are aware that we will need to streamline our discussion. In this regard, we trust the leadership of the UNDC Chair and the Working Group Chair to help the Member States navigate our discussion and produce a meaningful outcome from this meeting.

The Philippines stands ready to work with delegations to ensure that the substantive session would be able to agree on concrete recommendations on the two items in our agenda.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.