25 November 2015 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong reiterated the principled support of the Philippines to the principles of the right to protect (R2P) in a high level panel discussion convened in Geneva to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of world leaders of R2P on November 19.
Ambassador Rebong, in her intervention, explained that the Philippine principled support to R2P finds basis in the Philippine Constitution. She stressed that Section 4 of Article II thereof provides: “the prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people,” and Section 1 of the same Article provides: “sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.”
She clarified that R2P does not create new binding norms. “Rather, it builds and reinforces international human rights law standards that condemn mass atrocities, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes,” she added.
Ambassador Rebong also cautioned that “while States have the collective duty to prevent the occurrence of crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity, upholding R2P is never an invitation to the ways and means that are outside the ambit of the Charter of the United Nations.”
“R2P should never be used as a means to pursue unilateral coercive measures,” she stressed.
Ambassador Rebong also advised that “R2P should be applied equally and fairly to all States.” She warned against selectivity and politicization that will defeat the universal application of the R2P.
Ambassador Rebong also reminded that actions pursuant to Pillar 2 on capacity building and Pillar 3, on timely and decisive coercive interventions, should have very clear mandate and time frame. “Open ended and ambiguous mandates, will result in chaotic situations and dismal failures,” emphasized Ambassador Rebong.
The high level panel discussion was organized by the Global Center for R2P, the Geneva Institute, and the core group of countries comprising of Australia, Ghana, Hungary, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uruguay.
Other countries, such as Bosnia, Guatemala, Rwanda, and Solomon Islands, shared their respective national experience in implementing R2P. END