Thank you, Madame Chair, for giving me the floor once again. In addition to our intervention this morning, we wish to add some responses to your 5th guiding question.
Madame Chair, for the Fourth Review Conference, the Philippines also see the value in having conversation that addresses factors that contribute to the demand for illicit small arms and light weapons such as poverty, inequality, and conflict should be addressed. This is by: 1) supporting peace processes to end armed conflicts to address the cause of insecurities in places where there are armed conflicts; 2) highlight positive obligations; and 3) highlight intervention efforts that aims to decrease misuse/abuse of SALW, efforts to improve capacity to monitor SALW, and efforts to limit its areas of use, among others.
The Philippines believes in listening to various states’ views, including those who do not have civilian possession and those who have eliminated illicit proliferation. These states should be encouraged to openly share their national experiences and practical ways so others may learn from them.
This may involve implementing development programs aimed at providing alternative livelihoods and opportunities for marginalized communities, as well as addressing underlying grievances that fuel armed violence through supporting the implementation of peace agreements.
Finally, Madame Chair, to revitalize the work of the PoA, we intend to submit a working paper which hopes to make recommendations, for the consideration of Member States, on how we can revitalize the PoA and to help address one of the main critique of the PoA, in particular the difficulty of measuring the POA’s success and effectivity, by focusing on the following possible implementation indicators: 1. regional initiatives (i.e. regional roadmaps, where applicable); 2. non-proliferation efforts; 3. condition and plight of victims; and 4. counter-measures on misuse/abuse of SALW. We will circulate our working paper in due course and we look forward to further engagements on this with interested Member States.
Thank you, Madame Chair.