PH, ASEAN Call for Adequate Resources and Support for Effective Implementation of UN Peacekeeping Mandates

Minister Noel M. Novicio of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York, on behalf of ASEAN, calls for adequate resources for peacekeeping missions during the Fifth Committee’s 29th Formal Meeting of the 77th UNGA at the UN headquarters on 01 May 2023 (New York PM photo)

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 01 May 2023 – The Philippines, on behalf of ASEAN, called for adequate resourcing for the full and effective implementation of peacekeeping mandates during the 29th Formal Meeting of the Fifth Committee for the 77th session of the UN General Assembly on 01 May 2023 at the UN headquarters. The Philippines delivered the ASEAN statement in its capacity as this year’s ASEAN Co-Coordinator for the Fifth Committee.

Representing the Philippines, Minister Noel M. Novicio of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations stated that ASEAN will work with other delegations in examining carefully the Secretary-General’s budget request of around $6.8 billion for fiscal year 2023-2024, as well as the recommendations of the Advisory Committee for Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) on related aspects of peacekeeping operations.

Minister Novicio noted that ASEAN commends peacekeeping personnel for helping ensure that “peace in affected countries and regions will be able to take root, thrive, and be sustained, with the help of the delivery of political and peacebuilding support to prevent the outbreak of war and help countries transition from conflict to sustainable peace.”

Minister Novicio acknowledged the success of the Fifth Committee in reaching consensus, after six years of nonagreement, on a cross-cutting resolution at the second resumed 76th session of the UN General Assembly in 2022. He said that the said resolution has been instrumental in providing policy guidance and resources to allow peacekeeping missions to efficiently and effectively carry out their mandates. This was especially significant given that the landscape of UN peacekeeping has changed in the past several years, including having to adjust its missions during the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter.

The Philippines further said that ASEAN, for this session, will give priority to the following topics during the deliberations: enhancement of peace, women and security agenda; reimbursements to Troop- and Police- Contributing Countries, or T/PCCs; the strengthening of transparency, accountability and support of victims, especially in the context of ASEAN’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy and accountability at all levels, as well as the upholding of preventive measures to eradicate sexual exploitation and abuse.

Other items of high priority to ASEAN this session are the investment in prevention and peacebuilding, which has been deferred three times in a row, and the agenda on improving the financial situation of the organization. ASEAN commended the Secretary-General and his team for their efforts at liquidity management in the United Nations.

As conveyed by Minister Novicio, ASEAN further urged all Member States to continue their efforts to fulfil their financial obligations on time, in full and without conditions, as set out in the Charter of the United Nations in order to ensure that the organization has adequate resources to deliver on its mandates, which the Member States, themselves, have established. END

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.