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Thank you, Madame Chair.

 

My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by Morocco on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and by Thailand on behalf of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN).   

Allow me to express my delegation’s confidence that under your leadership, the Special Committee will continue to contribute positively towards enhancing the capacity of the United Nations to conduct peacekeeping operations.

 

Allow me as well to thank the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (A/69/642).  And we look forward to the briefings of Mr. Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Mr. Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support. 

 

Madame Chair 

 

Our shared desire to secure international peace and stability behooves us all to contribute positively and constructively to the peacekeeping efforts of our United Nations. 

 

Increasingly, however, peacekeeping missions - and our peacekeepers - are facing greater challenges.  Their operational environments are becoming more complex and complicated.  In some Missions, elements not contemplated during the formulation of mandates - such as Anti Government Armed Elements (AGAEs) and pandemics – continue to undermine the implementation of UN peacekeeping mandates.

The Philippines takes full note of and appreciates the candor of the Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (A/69/642).  The report identifies accomplishments as well as challenges.  It is only when we consider these strengths and weaknesses can we hope to move forward with our peace agenda.

 

The Secretary-General’s observations in A/69/642 are deeply disturbing: There is a changing pattern of violence and increase in the overall volatility of the peacekeeping operating environment. This has resulted in a significant spike in the number of deaths of peacekeepers, a 100 percent increase in the number of targeted hostile acts, and a substantial increase in the scale of abductions.       

 

Last year, 45 Fijian peacekeepers were kidnapped and 72 Filipino peacekeepers were also held under siege conditions by Anti-Government Armed Elements.  In 2013 and 2014, a total of 59 peacekeepers were killed. Clearly this situation cannot and should not continue.

 

It is our obligation as one peacekeeping community to ensure that peacekeeping missions can successfully implement their mandates. We need to ensure that mandates of peacekeeping missions are responsive to current conditions. We also need to ensure that the entire policy, structural and operations architecture of peacekeeping are duly supported.

 

Madame Chair,

 

Our work is set before us and we cannot afford to fail.  We owe this to ourselves as stakeholders of international peace and security; to the men and women who risk their lives in the name of peace; and to the millions who face turmoil and violence and deserve to live a life of dignity and without fear. 

 

Madame Chair,  

 

As a troop and police contributing country (TCC/PCC), the Philippines has been working steadfastly to ensure that it lives up to its international commitments in peacekeeping, consistent with our sovereign interests and with due consideration of our sovereign concerns. 

 

We have more than half a century of demonstrated and dedicated participation. Filipino troops have been on the ground when presence truly mattered so that the line of peace will continue to hold.  We take pride in the presence of these boots on the ground. Shoulder-to-shoulder with peacekeepers from other countries, they display uncommon courage and bravery as well as unquestioned commitment to the cause of peace.  While we acknowledge the risk inherent in deploying peacekeepers, we must never forget that as Governments, we can never renege from our duty to exert our very utmost to afford them adequate protection as they go about their mission. 

The Secretary-General’s report certainly assists a TCC/PCC in the development of a deeper engagement in peacekeeping. In this regard, the Philippines wishes to make the following comments and observations:

 

• Any debate on peacekeeping operations must be firmly grounded on the premise that all stakeholders must exert all efforts to peacefully settle disputes, consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. We must do everything we can to prevent conflict from arising. This is a paramount obligation of all members of the United Nations and this is a principled position which the Philippines will continue to articulate. Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations comprehensively provides the many ways for the pacific settlement of disputes.

 

• Capacity building - before, during and after deployment - is a key area of activity that must be sustained.  Cooperation and collaboration with DPKO and with other countries will be vital, including the enhancement of the Training of Trainers program.  This capacity building will be greatly improved at policy level through the implementation of equitable regional representation in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/265 and 67/287.  

 

• There is need to fully support peacekeeping efforts through the provision of adequate resources. The Philippines is pleased that after 10 years, agreement was reached to increase the standard rate of reimbursement.  The graduated approach to the increase of those rates was propounded by the Philippines during negotiations.  The Philippines stands to work constructively towards the full implementation of this agreement. 

 

• Individual contingents that operate without restrictions nor caveats should be awarded risk premiums.  This is the least that can be done given the many risks peacekepeers face. The implementation of these risk premiums must be implemented in accordance with the arrangements stipulated in the A/RES/67/261.

 

• The Philippines condemns any and all acts committed against UN peacekeepers.  We underscore the need to provide timely coordination and assistance in the event of crisis situations and casualties. Events in the many peacekeeping missions have shown the extreme vulnerability of our peacekeepers. We see the value in significantly strengthening the safety and security of peacekeepers in all peacekeeping missions. 

 

There is also a need for missions to provide truthful and timely information to United Nations Headquarters. Relatedly, this underscores the need for the United Nations Headquarters to convey such information without delay to the Permanent Missions of concerned TCCs and PCCs.  This measure reinforces confidence in the entire peacekeeping infrastructure.

 

 

The Philippines stresses the need for peacekeeping missions to acquire improved safety and security capacities with a strategic and holistic view on a wide range of issues, including mission leadership, chain of command, rules of engagement, pre-deployment assessment and training, policies and standards, as well as the use of protective equipment and high-level technological assets. Certainly, we underscore the importance of the timely provision of adequate self-defence and related equipment to fulfil the peacekeeping mandate in accordance with United Nations standards to ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers.

 

To respond to the disturbing safety and security developments identified in the report of the Secretary-General, multidimensional contingency planning is important.  In this regard, planned crisis response exercises can be conducted in the missions and at Headquarters. In light of recent events, revisiting outstanding operational and tactical issues impacting the safety and security of United Nations personnel in crisis situations, including Command and Control, Rules of Engagement and the responsibility of the host state, is a must.

 

And finally, Madame Chair, the safety and security of peacekeepers must also include the aspect of human health. Pandemics and diseases continue to constitute emerging threats and efforts must be sustained to enhance the ability of peacekeeping missions to address these pandemics. For its part, the Philippines has contributed $2 million dollars to the Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund through a Standard Administrative Arrangement with UNDP. Similarly, care must be taken to ensure that missions – through effective standard operating procedures - do not leave behind a footprint that negatively affects the health of locals.

 

The Philippines notes the work of the Secretary-General’s high-level panel to review UN peace operations under Mr. Jose Ramos Horta. We look forward to hearing the observations and recommendations of this panel, particularly on safety and security of peacekeepers.

 

The Philippines commiserates with other TCCs and PCCs who have lost their nationals to the cause of peace.  The memory of these gallant brothers and sisters prompts us to redouble our efforts to ensure the safety and security of all peacekeepers on the ground.

 

Madame Chair

 

We have a huge responsibility towards our uniformed men and women and to those who rely on peacekeeping to live a decent life. Let it not be said that we were remiss in our duties. We must – in our collective decisions and actions – make sure that the peacekeeping narrative remains a story of hope and of positive transformation because we all deserve peace and we all stand to benefit from the dividends of peace.. END