Madame Chair,

On the implementation of international cooperation assistance, the Philippines submits the following three (3) points:

First, the Philippines reiterates it commitment to international cooperation and assistance, specifically tailored to the needs of a country or the region. To strengthen international cooperation and assistance in the POA and the ITI, we are of the view that the Review Conference could consider strengthening UNSCAR, which over the years has supported developing countries in our region roll out the Regional Roadmap and supported regional workshops across ASEAN member-states, and regional initiatives like the ASEAN Declaration on Combatting Arms Smuggling. Many countries would like to avail UNSCAR’s programs, but with their limited resources, UNSCAR can only accommodate a very limited number of programs i.e., it is supporting (only) 10 programs for year 2023-2024.

Second, assistance programs will have more sustainable results if these can be focused on national and regional initiatives. Complementarity and support to existing initiatives not only avoids duplication but will allow for greater impact. The ASEAN Declaration on Combatting Arms Smuggling and the Philippines’ Regional Roadmap are concrete initiatives that addresses illicit proliferation. Assistance in the region can be better utilized if efforts are parallel to this initiative.

Third, the Secretariat can support the matching of needs and resources for international assistance under the PoA and the ITI framework by working with implementing partners working in the region, who are already working with States. In our experience, we can do more by building on existing efforts and by relying on States’ national and regional partners who already possess real time knowledge of the needs of States and can readily provide states with direct technical assistance.

Finally, Madame Chair, on concrete measures to mainstream gender perspective in PoA implementation, the Philippines takes pride that we have incorporated gender responsive gender-responsive actions in our National Action Plans (NAP), both in our National Action Plan on SALWs and our National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. The Philippines NAP on WPS provides: "Strengthen[ing] gender-responsive initiatives to address the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, including within the context of peace agreements." The current draft of the Philippine National Action Plan on SALW also likewise includes an Annex on gender-based action plans. To mainstream gender into the implementation of the PoA, we encourage others to incorporate gender-responsive actions in their National Action Plans, which includes, but are not limited to NAP on SALWs and the NAP on Women, Peace and Security.

Thank you, Madame Chair.