Secretary Locsin Launches Exhibit at the United Nations to Commemorate the Manila Declaration
DFA Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. delivers the keynote message at the launch of “When the World declared Peace,” an exhibit to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes at the General Assembly Building at the United Nations Headquarters. (Photo from New York PM)
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK 25 April 2022 - Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. launched “When the World declared Peace,” an exhibit commemorating the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes at the United Nations Headquarters on 21 April 2022, in line with with the resolution adopted by the General Assembly.
The exhibit features a 20-foot centerpiece, a playful and colorful mural at the back of the centerpiece, and nineteen panels, designed by the DFA’s Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy, featured the ideas that underpin the Manila Declaration. It will be on display at the UN Headquarters from 18 to 29 April 2022.
“Our then Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo said: ‘This [Manila] Declaration marks an important step forward for the United Nations and the international community generally in our efforts to enhance the capacity of the United Nations for peace-making.’ His words have not lost their relevance,” emphasized Secretary Locsin.
The Secretary further stressed that the exihibit “is the Philippines’ contribution to the dissemination of the Declaration and the commitments needed for its full observance.”
Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs D. Stephen Mathias noted that the Manila Declaration addresses both the normative and procedural aspects of the United Nations Charter and said that “this exhibition is an important reminder of what we have achieved and of our need to recommit ourselves to it”. Assistant Secretary General for Political meanwhile stated, reiterated the need reiterate the “commitment to working towards an inclusive, effective multilateralism, which is so vital to ensuring global peace and prosperity”.
The Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 November 1982. It was based on a text prepared by the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization at its 1980 session that was held in Manila. The Declaration is the first important outcome of the work of the Special Committee and one of its significant achievements.
The full keynote message of Secretary Locsin may be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3OyWDh1. For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/. END
Left Photo: Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. (middle), Madame Maria Lourdes B. Locsin (2nd from the left), Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo (leftmost), UN Officials Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs D. Stephen Mathias (2nd from the right) and Assistant Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Mohamed Khaled Khiari (rightmost) at the launch of “When the World declared Peace,” an exhibit to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes. Right Photo: Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Madame Maria Lourdes B. Locsin, and Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo is joined by UN Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs D. Stephen Mathias, UN Assistant Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Mohamed Khaled Khiari and the Permanent Representatives from the ASEAN member states. (Photos from NYPM)