PH Urges Protection of Civilians, Affirms Ban on Chemical Weapons
Philippine Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya law during the 99th Session of the Executive Council of the OPCW held at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague on 08 March 2022. (The Hague PE photo)
THE HAGUE 10 March 2022 — The Philippines called for the protection of civilians in conflict areas and the observance of international humanitarian law during the 99th Session of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) held at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague on 08 March 2022.
The Philippine Permanent Representative to the OPCW, Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya, said that, “As we monitor recent grim developments, we need to remain vigilant and ensure that civilians are unharmed and protected, and international humanitarian law observed. We should further ensure that no chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction are ever used.”
Ambassador Malaya reiterated the call of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., with reference to the evolving developments in Ukraine, for the international community “to reaffirm by more than words its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes,” along the lines of the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes which provides the legal framework for recourse to diplomacy, dialogue and rule of law.
The Philippine Ambassador further urged the participating delegations to “rededicate ourselves to the ideals of the U.N. Charter, notably the cornerstone principles of no threat or use of force and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.” “Let us keep in mind what brought us together as signatories of the Chemical Weapons Convention and other disarmament treaties, and work earnestly to realize the noble aspiration best expressed by the Greek Aeschylus – to ‘tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world’,” he added.
The 99th Session of the Executive Council was chaired by Ambassador Eniola Olaitan Ajayi of Nigeria. H.E. Fernando Arias is the Director-General of the OPCW.
The Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CWC) entered into force in 1997 and has 193 Member States to date. The OPCW Executive Council, on the other hand, is composed of 41 elected Member States, including the Philippines, and holds three regular sessions annually. The Executive Council is responsible for promoting the effective implementation of the Convention and the compliance of each Member State with its provisions.
The Philippine Government through its Embassy in The Hague has consistently supported the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention through the OPCW, as a crucial initiative to foster global peace and security, promote the peaceful uses of chemistry, and the protection of the millions of Filipinos working and residing overseas. END
(The Hague PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.thehaguepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinTheNetherlands/.