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FIRST READING OF PACT FOR THE FUTURE

Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Presenter: 
H.E. MR. ANTONIO M. LAGDAMEO, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York
Location: 
United Nations Headquarters, New York

 

Distinguished co-facilitators, I would like now to deliver our statement in my national capacity.

We thank you again for coming up with the zero draft of the Pact for the Future. The Philippines submitted its comprehensive inputs covering the various chapters of the Pact for the Future last month. We hope that the Pact will deliver meaningful outcomes for present and future generations. 

For the Philippines, the following elements are fundamental for a Pact of the Future:

First, it should uphold the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It should also build on the 2023 SDG Summit Political Declaration and deliver on the SDG pledges.

More importantly, the Pact of the Future should aim to revitalize multilateralism and transform where necessary, making it more inclusive, equitable and just, to bring to fruition the purposes of the UN Charter towards making peace, justice and sustainable development a reality for all our peoples.

Second, it should build on sustainable development gains and more resilience at all levels. Resilience approaches in climate action must encompass financing, science, nature-based solutions, and partnerships.

The Philippines supports efforts to achieving the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement goals by upholding the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances.

Third, it should strengthen global response to persistent health problems and future pandemics through equitable access to vaccines and effective public health systems.

We support a legally binding instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and a stronger International Health Regulation. We further support all efforts and mechanisms, whether they be bilateral, regional and multilateral, towards vaccine equity, including through scaling up of regional and local productive capacities and discussions on intellectual property rights restrictions.

 Fourth, it should foster an enabling environment that empowers all peoples including youth, women, older persons, indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees and people with disabilities to participate in inclusive, dynamic and diverse societies.

Fifth, it should advance a just and equitable economic order through reforms in the international financial architecture and measures to bridge development divides, including innovation and access to science and technology.

In this regard, we have high hopes for the Global Digital Compact to deliver. We also support initiatives to reform the international financial and development cooperation mechanisms to make them more responsive, impactful and more inclusive such that the realities of middle-income countries, among other countries, are also considered; and more fit for purpose.  

Sixth, it should upgrade global governance structures to prevent the misuse and weaponization of cyberspace, outer space, and emerging domains and technologies such as AI and autonomous systems. None of these new domains should be used to subvert democracy and freedoms and violate human rights and human dignity.

Any governance frameworks to be developed for artificial intelligence or any other new and emerging technologies must take into account the particular needs of developing countries.

Lastly, it should bolster the primacy of diplomacy and international law, including the peaceful settlement of international disputes and adhering to the principles of the UN Charter.

This commitment underlines our dedication to strengthening the multilateral system, ensuring that it is robust and capable of addressing both current and future global challenges.

The Philippines commits to a future where peace, security, and sustainable development are interwoven, ensuring progress and prosperity through a united, equitable, and rule-based global approach.

Thank you, co-facilitators.