30 June 2015 - The future of humanitarian affairs need a “whole-of-society approach” founded on trust and confidence in addressing the challenges on humanitarian action, the Philippines highlighted in its statement during the Economic and Social Council Humanitarian Affairs Segment (ECOSOC HAS) which took place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from June 17 to 19.
Held annually to stimulate discussion among Member States and other stakeholders in addressing challenges on humanitarian action, this year’s ECOSOC HAS focused on the theme "the future of humanitarian affairs: towards greater inclusiveness, coordination, interoperability and effectiveness”.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Jesus R.S. Domingo delivered the Philippine statement during the closing session.
He said that the Philippines recognized that humanitarian challenges are not stand-alone concerns and therefore do not require an “all government approach” but a “whole-of-society approach.”
The Philippines stressed the need to strengthen partnerships with all stakeholders. It cited one of the findings at the Disaster Response Dialogue (DRD) hosted by the Philippines in 2014 that these partnerships should be founded on mutual trust and confidence and collaborative attitudes to strengthen joint coordination before and during a humanitarian response, and in the recovery and in the rehabilitation phase. The humanitarian community should aim for complementarity among actors.
The country also mentioned that the international community should use the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction as guide in contributing to building resilience at all levels. The Sendai Framework should synergize with inter-related processes: the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Change Frameworks to be concluded this year, and the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016.
It also cited that to end the vicious cycle of funding, it is essential to address the root causes of conflicts. This is the only way to avoid fostering a cycle of dependence on funding. It called for a flexible humanitarian financing architecture that would take a sustainable development approach to build resilient communities.
Ambassador Cecilia B Rebong, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and Other International Organizations, and Third Secretary Sharon Johnnette M. Agduma also attended the ECOSOC HAS with Assistant Secretary Domingo on behalf of the Philippines.
There were two high-level panel discussions, a general debate, some 23 informal side-events and a humanitarian trade fair showcasing the reality in humanitarian settings at the ECOSOC HAS.
Member States, United Nations and non-United Nations humanitarian and development organizations, the private sector, affected people and other actors from a range of geographic groups attended the ECOSOC HAS this year. END