Mr. President,
Thank you for convening this important plenary debate on the use of the veto, an essential component of the reform of the Security Council and of the United Nations as a whole.
Our world and the people today need a more transformed, more accountable, more inclusive and more transparent multilateral system.
The Philippines reiterates its position that the use of the veto is an exceptional responsibility that should not be used without accountability. In this regard, I would like to emphasize the following:
First, the special privilege to exercise the veto power is in direct contravention of the principle of sovereign equality of all Member States as enshrined in the UN Charter.
Second, the veto power has no place in a 21st century Security Council. Recent geopolitical crises in multiple fronts underscore that the current system in place has constrained the Security Council from discharging its mandate in maintaining international peace and security.
Third, there is a need to curtail the use of the veto. We recognize that abolishing it completely would be extremely challenging because of the need of agreement from the five permanent members. The effectiveness and efficiency of the Security Council would always be under threat, especially at times of great geopolitical rivalries, if the exercise of the veto power is not limited.
An important step is rationalizing the use of the veto by the permanent members. Security Council permanent members must refrain from exercising the veto power on matters involving genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and terrorism.
In this regard, the Philippines continues to support the Code of Conduct proposed by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency or ACT group and the French-Mexican initiative that spell out exceptions to the use of the veto power. We encourage all the five permanent members of the Security Council to join both initiatives.
Another path is in the context of the General Assembly. The Philippines consistently supports the view that the General Assembly is the chief deliberative, policy making and most representative organ of the United Nations. We thus supported the intent of the veto initiative resolution to strengthen the General Assembly by enhancing its ability to act on matters affecting international peace and security, in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 and 35, in the event the Security Council is unable to do for whatever reason.
Mr. President,
Timeliness in global action to ensure and maintain international peace and security is critical. The paralysis of the UN Security Council to act due to the use of veto should be unacceptable, as it is a sentence of continued and unimaginable suffering and hardships, even death, to many who are caught in the crossfire, majority of who are innocent lives.
Despite the challenges to completely abolish the veto power, we must actively pursue measures to limit its use. We cannot just remain idle.
After all, we want a Security Council that is fit for purpose for 21st century realties – one that is effective, timely and efficient, representative, inclusive and an organ of the United Nations that truly represents sovereign equality among Member States.
Thank you, Mr. President.