Madame President,
The Philippines aligns itself with the statement delivered by Brunei Darussalam on behalf of ASEAN.
We join others in expressing appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report under this agenda item.
Commitment for Peace
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Peace and Programme of Action.
We reiterate our support for all efforts being undertaken to promote a culture of peace, interreligious and intercultural dialogue and cooperation.
We look forward to the 2025 review of the UN peacebuilding architecture, including on strengthening and updating the UN toolbox for prevention of conflict and its recurrence, with Women, Peace and Security (WPS); and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) perspectives.
As a peacemaker, we are proud of our 20-year partnership with Pakistan in shepherding the General Assembly resolution on the “Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace.”
Today, this resolution is more relevant than ever to counter growing and concerning trend of xenophobia and religious intolerance, underpinned by the identity politics, as well as the emergence of extremist ideologies.
We thank all Member States that continue to support the two primary aims of the resolution: to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue to achieve peace and stability, and to strengthen the mechanism that promises constructive dialogue across the most divergent divides.
We would like also to commend the important role that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United National Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) play in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue at all levels.
BARMM: A model for peacebuilding
Our success in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the Southern Philippines is the centerpiece of our experience in building peace and forging new paths of cooperation.
As a pathfinder, the BARMM manifests the vision of the Philippines for people-focused peace-building.
Inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders, including women, the youth, faith leaders and civil society, conducted with patience and good faith, has produced a credible and solid foundation for self-government that paves the way for lasting peace and sustainable development.
Women played critical roles, as negotiators, researchers, and community organizers in the BARMM peace process, proving what we have been saying here all along – that when women are on the table, peace is attainable and sustainable.
Promoting and investing in the full, equal, and meaningful participation and leadership of women should be an important facet of our peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts.
Enhanced participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations
The Philippines will continue to be a reliable partner in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts and in implementing UN Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism and peace-building, among others.
Since 1963, the Philippines has been committed to its role in UN peacekeeping operations. We intend to increase our footprint with dedicated and professional peacekeepers on the ground, including highly-trained women peacekeepers.
We believe in the power of diplomacy, dialogue, and peaceful negotiations in conflict resolution. The delivery of political and peacebuilding support can also prevent the outbreak of war, and help countries transition from conflict to sustainable peace.
Threat of nuclear weapons and other weapons
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.
At the same time, we must also address the threats caused by other weapons of mass destruction, new security risks in the field of cyberspace, outer space and artificial intelligence and the scourge of the proliferation of all weapons, be they small arms, light weapons, or improvised explosive device.
Conclusion
Madame President,
We look forward to the Summit of the Future in September this year as an opportunity to collectively chart our path for peace and development. As has been said before: “There is no peace without development, and there is no development without peace.”
We need solidarity to transcend our differences and commit to ending war, eradicating poverty, upholding justice, respecting human rights, achieving sustainable development and maintaining international peace and security.
The Philippines continues to firmly advocate for international collaboration and a rules-based order, and global partnerships to strengthen multilateralism and the primacy of international law, including the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
We believe that such collaboration is crucial in assisting conflict-affected countries, enhancing capacity-building for development, and strengthening resilience to security risks.
We also remain steadfast in our work towards narrowing development gaps, upholding the interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals, and empowering people in vulnerable situations, such as youth, women, older persons and migrant workers. A culture of peace can only be upheld if there is inclusive sustainable development where no one is left behind.
Let me conclude by echoing what our President recently stated about peace and, I quote:
“Peace is more than the cessation of hostilities. It is about the creation of a social order that values human dignity, improves lives, and promotes progress. Peace is totally achieved not when the sound of gunfire has ended. It is when the clamor for better lives has been met.”
Excellencies, colleagues, the Philippines resolutely stands on the side of peace.
Thank you Madame President.