Topic: 2025 – Criminal Accountability of UN Officials
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Kennedy Anderson
Since becoming one of the founding states of the United Nations in 1945, the Philippines has taken an active role throughout its history, with a focus on peace. This year when asking for a non-permanent seat in the security council for the 2027-2028 term, our goal while having on the seat we would consider the views and concerns of all Member States and other UN organs. Along with that we want to advance the cause of global peace, “with the depth of experience earned from our struggles for peace.”. The Philippines values our role in the United Nations and values the work that is done and believe that the United Nations is a vital part of country relations. In a 2015 Security Council open debate on Maintaining International Peace and Security as a representative of the Philippines Irene Susan B. Natividad stated that “the international community can count on the Philippines to uphold the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter. The UN and its Charter have been, and will remain to be, crucial bastions for the voices of all countries to be heard on the global stage.”
The Republic of Philippines deeply concerns itself with holding criminal acts of officials accountable. With having a history of colonization from other countries, combatting oppression within other countries is one of values that we hold deeply. Since 1963 the Philippines has contributed to UN peacekeeping operations worldwide, deploying more than 15,000 Filipino peacekeepers to 21 UN peacekeeping and special political missions across Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific. We will continue to increase our engagement, sending more Filipinos across the globe to aid as many people as we can. With worldwide participation to keep those in need safe we will continue to strengthen accountability mechanisms and system-wide efforts to implement a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, ensuring that the rights and dignity of victims are fully protected and respected. We also attach high priority to the safety and security of peacekeepers, who often operate amid complex political and security environments. They must be equipped with adequate resources, training, and support to enable them to perform their mandates safely and effectively. In recent years we have begun to cooperate with the International Criminal Court to keep officials regulated on an international stage.
In this committee we plan to extend this work to all other working UN members. The Republic of Philippines is aware that not every situation is the same however we will aim to set a baseline for officials and peacekeeping troops no matter where they are stationed. Creating universal training materials and guidelines for peacekeeping missions will help with setting expectations that every group can follow. Implementing a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, ways they can aid civilians in need and other civilian safety measures, will allow a straightforward, inclusive plan to share what will be tolerated as a peacekeeper. The Republic of Philippines acknowledges how important it is for women in uniformed roles, increasing women in peacekeeping missions will also allow for a diverse environment and have women in need feel safe when met with unfamiliar UN peacekeeping troops. Creating a victims resource for people who may have been at the hands of power abuse of UN Officials, will let victims and all people in need know that we care for them and value their safety not only from others within their country or opposing countries but within UN missions as well.
