Topic: Controversial Cultural and Religious Practices
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Jared Rhein
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Philippines position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Controversial Cultural and Religious Practices of human or animal injustices include as female genital mutilation(FGM) to the slitting of throats for kosher meat regulations. All issues are important to the United Nations especially those involving human injustices. The Philippines does not mind if any religious practice or culture takes place within the nation as long as not disrupting the government. This topic is vague and is a stereotypical statement of those that have traditional cultures in developing nations, while the western developed nations may shame it. The committee should not address this topic due to the fact of rash classification of western countries’; western ideals do not align to Filipino customs and our religious practices of whaling or other, which is a traditional food source. Another misinterpreted tradition is “Pearling”, this is the insertion of “Bolitas”; these Bolitas or small plastic balls, are inserted under the skin of the penis to please a woman, this tradition has taken place since the 16th century. Within the Philippines there has been a push for women's reproductive rights, that passed The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012; abortion is among these reproductive rights, also a highly debated topic between the Catholic and Islam communities who believe abortion is wrong, against activists.
The Philippines have no interest in combating cultural or religious practices that will be sustained regardless of any infringement along with the social injustice of this motion. The Philippines have extremely traditional cultures and religion, Philippine’s president feels the same, “I am here because I love my country and I love the people of the Philippines. I am a native of the Philippines,” (Rodrigo Duterte). There are Islamic insurgencies in the Philippines, known as the Moro Conflict. “And there is a risk that disaffected Filipino Muslims will redirect their aggression into terrorism and extortion, which have racked the southern island of Mindanao, in particular, for decades.” (The Economist). My country allows religious practices and cultural rituals, especially those forged by Filipino history along with those of. The Philippines takes a defensive approach with laws or regulations on religion or culture that it should be regulated; despite this, there are occasional exceptions like the Reproductive Health Bill that lobbied for universal access of contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care. Abortion, under “fertility control” conflicts with the main religion, Catholicism. The religion of Catholicism put the light on conflicting views with government procedure; the War on Drugs that killed twelve thousand plus and abortion that exponentially kills woman and child, due towards nature of abortion and risk of infection. The government has restricted both of the issues mentioned by Catholics; the War on Drugs has persevered and abortion is still legal. The approval of this law has prompted headlines in the United States along with attention from Pope Francis in 2015. International issues are under the jurisdiction of each nation, these are not immediate problems of the Philippines.
The Philippines, recommends to the committee of Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee to not take action to restrict cultures based on tradition and the banning of historical religions. Any misinterpretations by developed western countries are condescending and not appreciated. Western countries have no right to dictate historical, religious or customary procedures related to the Philippines. Filipino culture and our religious action are by historical context dating back to its existence, starting on June 12, 1898.
