IN his first major speech before a global audience at the 75TH General Assembly of the United Nations last September 22, 2020, Philippine president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, displayed his keen awareness of issues that matter to the international community and the present weakened state of the UN in addressing them.
From the “unfamiliar landscape” that was brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, “rising tensions” that can lead to nuclear war, the continuing threat of terrorism and climate change and the use of the UN by communist front organizations to blacken the image of the Philippines and his administration especially over the issue of human rights, the Chief Executive intimated that all of these were interconnected by the need to “strengthen” the world body.
“To make significant changes, we need to be bold.
“We need the same collective courage that finally made the United Nations a reality 75 years ago,” the Philippine leader said.
The UN, the President added, should now act on the “long-standing recommendation to improve” the membership of the Security Council, give more voice to the General Assembly and cut-down on the UN’s own bureaucratic red tape.
Because of its veto power, the Security Council, composed of only 5 countries—US, Russia, China, Britain and France—effectively has the final say on all the affairs of the UN, especially those involving the use of armed force to intervene in the affairs of other countries.
“Let us strengthen it (UN General Assembly) so it can fully deliver its mandate to maintain peace and security, uphold justice and human rights, and promote freedom and social progress for all,” Pres. Duterte added.
Taking a swipe at the members of the European Union, whose Parliament recently issued a resolution attacking him and the government for human rights violations, Pres. Duterte reminded the attendees of the Philippines’ “long history” of opening doors to refugees, from the ‘White Russians’ fleeing the Communist (Bolshevik) Revolution in 1917, the Jews fleeing the Holocaust during World War 2 to the Iranians displaced by the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
This is in contrast to the present humanitarian crisis in Europe after the European Union had closed its doors to the refugees fleeing the many conflict zones that they themselves created, from the Balkans (Bosnia) to Africa (Libya) and the Middle East (Syria).
“(L)est we forget: helping the most vulnerable – those displaced by conflict, persecution, and political instability – is a shared responsibility of all countries,” Duterte told his audience.
The Chief Executive also reminded the UN that his government is aware that many of its institutions are now being used by front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to attack the Philippines over the issue of human rights.
He added that while his government is committed to “open dialogue and constructive engagement” as the “key” in moving forward on the issue of human rights, “a number of interest groups have weaponized human rights; some well-meaning, others ill-intentioned.”
“These detractors pass themselves off as human rights advocates while preying on the most vulnerable humans; even using children as soldiers or human shields in encounters.
“Even schools are not spared from their malevolence and anti-government propaganda.
“They hide their misdeeds under the blanket of human rights but the blood oozes through,” the President reminded the UN.