PH Ambassador Concludes Work as Chair of UN Working Group on Potential Treaty on Disasters
Ambassador and Permanent Representative Antonio M. Lagdameo concludes the second and final session of the Working Group on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters, which was constituted under the Sixth Committee of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (Photo Courtesy of UNTV)
NEW YORK 11 November 2024 – In a step towards closing the gap in international legal framework in disaster response, Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, presented his second and final report as Chair of the Working Group on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters (PPED) under the Sixth Committee of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Working Group, convened pursuant to a General Assembly resolution, is mandated to examine the draft articles on the protection of persons in the event of disasters, adopted by the International Law Commission (ILC) in 2016. The draft articles aim to facilitate adequate and effective response to and reduction of the risks of disasters and to meet the essential needs of persons concerned, with full respect of their rights. The Working Group also considered the ILC’s recommendation to craft a treaty on the basis of the draft articles, or any other potential course of action.
Ambassador Lagdameo’s report, along with his summary of the deliberations in the working group at the two sessions, and the views and comments expressed in the debates submitted by the Governments on the draft articles on the protection of persons in the event of disasters, could form part of a future comprehensive treaty on disasters.
Open to all Member States of the United Nations, the Working Group met seven times, including on 7, 8, 9 and 28 October 2024, where delegations engaged in a series of in-depth substantive discussions.
In the Chair’s summary, several Member States considered the draft articles to be an appropriate starting point for the development of a legally binding instrument on the matter. Many delegations expressed support for a diplomatic conference to craft a convention on the basis of the Draft Articles.
In his report, Ambassador Lagdameo said, “I have endeavored to take all comments into account in finalizing the Chair’s summary. In pursuit of balance and impartiality, I have diligently incorporated a range of contributions into the final summary, ensuring a representation that is both nuanced and equitable, reflective of our extensive discussion.”
During Ambassador Lagdameo’s chairpersonship and in between the two Working Group sessions in 2023 and 2024, he led initiatives to raise awareness on the Draft Articles, such as a panel discussion and an exhibit on the Draft Articles.
The fate of the Draft Articles is now in the hands of the Member States. A draft resolution on convening a diplomatic conference is currently pending at the General Assembly. The Philippines, which ranks first among the countries with the highest disaster risk, has made an offer to host the diplomatic conference, should Member States decide to move forward.
Concluding his report, Ambassador Lagdameo thanked all delegations for their meaningful engagement and contribution to the work of the Working Group.
The summary of the debate held in the working group during last year’s session and the Chair’s summary of the deliberations are available on the website of the Sixth Committee at https://www.un.org/en/ga/sixth/index.shtml. END
Ambassador and Permanent Representative Antonio M. Lagdameo delivers his report as Chair of Working Group on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters which is mandated to consider the recommendation of the International Law Commission for the elaboration of a treaty on disasters. (New York PM photo)
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