Mr. High Representative, Excellencies,
The Philippines congratulates the Secretary-General and the UN Alliance of Civilizations for the launch of the Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites two weeks ago. We look forward to the Secretary- General’s Global Conference in 2020 in order to garner political support for specific actions to take the Plan forward.
Since its establishment 14 years ago, the UNAOC has become a global, multi-stakeholder platform for intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation focused on the four pillars of education, youth, migration and media.
The Alliance continues to be a “reaffirmation of humankind’s increasing interdependence in all areas – from environment to health, from economic and social development, to peace and security.”
The Philippines continues its work to promote a culture of peace at the local, national, regional and multilateral levels.
At the local level, we are engaging with local communities and rebel groups to address real rather than ideological concerns which are impervious to democratic accommodation. At the national level, we are following a new peace and development roadmap for the Bangsamoro Peace Process. It is characterized by the inclusion of the Muslim, Christian and indigenous populations, by conducting dialogues; engaging in confidence-building initiatives involving all stakeholders and not just the politically connected; and consolidating and converging prior peace agreements with the readiness – so rare in other conflicts – to acknowledge the self-identity of our Muslim brothers and sisters as Bangsamoro under one indivisible republic with freedom and justice for all.
At the regional level and in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 — and in complement with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — the 2017 ASEAN Declaration on Culture of Prevention for a Peaceful, Inclusive, Resilient, Healthy and Harmonious Society enhances ASEAN-UN cooperation through measures and policies such as social protection, intercultural dialogue, and values-based education to address the underlying causes of poverty, inequality, discrimination, deprivation and isolation; which, in turn, can trigger and fuel conflict. The aim is to foster the values of peace, intercultural understanding, the rule of law, good governance, respect, trust, tolerance, inclusiveness, moderation, social responsibility and respect for diversity.
At the multilateral level, Pakistan and the Philippines since 2004, have co- sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution under the Culture of Peace agenda, with two objectives:
- To promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, peace and stability as the most promising course for realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and
- Strengthen mechanisms and take the appropriate actions to promote sincere and constructive dialogue across cultural and religious divides.
Mr. Chairman,
As Member States of the UNAOC’s Group of Friends, we represent an ideal, an identity, and a theme that aspires for a world at peace based on mutual respect, tolerance and moderation. Thank you, Mr. High Representative, Excellencies. END