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On United Nations Day, a look at the organization's work with and in the PHL
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October 24 is United Nations Day. Established as a 51-country organization in 1945 at the end of World War II from the ashes of the League of Nations, the UN is now a 193-member behemoth that strives to achieve world peace—by acting as an arbiter between warring nations and peacekeeper in conflict areas—and help those who need its protection the most, such as children and refugees.
Filipinos have been both the beneficiaries of UN assistance and the providers of it. Below are just a few examples of how the UN benefits Filipinos and how Filipinos do their part to help others as part of the UN as well.
Peacekeeping
Filipino UN peacekeepers, part of a group of 21 peacekeepers held by rebels for three days in southern Syria, wait to address a news conference at the headquarters of the General Command of the Jordanian Army in Amman March 9, 2013. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
As part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), Filipino UN peacekeepers have risked their safety on the ceasefire line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. In March, 21 Filipino peacekeepers were abducted by Syrian rebels and freed after four days. In May, four peacekeepers were kidnapped, also by Syrian rebels, and freed a few days later as well.
On Sept. 28, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the Philippines for maintaining peacekeepers in the UNDOF despite the incidents, and hailed the Filipino peacekeepers for "being extremely courageous in performing an outstanding necessary task."
Aid, development goals
— Barbara Marchadesch/VC, GMA News On Sept. 28, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the Philippines for maintaining peacekeepers in the UNDOF despite the incidents, and hailed the Filipino peacekeepers for "being extremely courageous in performing an outstanding necessary task."
Aid, development goals
The UNHCR established temporary shelters for individually displaced Badjaos dwelling along the coastal boulevard of Zamboanga City in this photo from September. The displacement was a result of the military offensive against MNLF gunmen who laid siege to parts of the city for three weeks. Richel Umel
In times of calamity, UN agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have come to the aid of evacuees such as those displaced in the recent attack on Zamboanga City by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). On its website, the UNHCR also said that it is also working with the government "to improve levels of birth registration in Mindanao."
Students at Dolores Elementary School in Guimaras wash their hands in a tippy-tap hand-washing station. This system is a way to ensure that schools can hold group hand-washing without piped-in running water. UNICEF Philippines
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) conducts several programs and projects in the country in collaboration with government agencies and non-government organizations. Earlier this month, UNICEF helped commemorate Global Handwashing Day, which promotes proper handwashing with soap and water to improve child survival and overall community health.
“In schools and day care centers, UNICEF works very closely with government, LGUs, NGOs, and donors to promote safe water, sanitary toilets, hand-washing with soap and deworming to children,” said Tim Grieve, chief of UNICEF Philippines’ Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Section.
UNICEF has helped out in times of calamity, distributing hygiene kits and water kits to victims of natural disasters such as Tropical Storm Sendong and man-made catastrophes such as the Zamboanga City attack.
UNICEF also holds events such as its Auction for Action to benefit educational programs in remote and impoverished areas in the ocuntry.
Preservation of important sites
“In schools and day care centers, UNICEF works very closely with government, LGUs, NGOs, and donors to promote safe water, sanitary toilets, hand-washing with soap and deworming to children,” said Tim Grieve, chief of UNICEF Philippines’ Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Section.
UNICEF has helped out in times of calamity, distributing hygiene kits and water kits to victims of natural disasters such as Tropical Storm Sendong and man-made catastrophes such as the Zamboanga City attack.
UNICEF also holds events such as its Auction for Action to benefit educational programs in remote and impoverished areas in the ocuntry.
Preservation of important sites
The Tubbataha Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thinkstock
With its list of World Heritage Sites, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to identify and preserve sites of great cultural or natural importance "considered to be of outstanding value to humanity."
According to UNESCO, "World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, [regardless] of the territory on which they are located." Sites on the list can obtain funding from UNESCO under certain conditions.
In the Philippines, UNESCO has designated the following as World Heritage Sites:
According to UNESCO, "World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, [regardless] of the territory on which they are located." Sites on the list can obtain funding from UNESCO under certain conditions.
In the Philippines, UNESCO has designated the following as World Heritage Sites:
- The four Baroque churches of the Philippines: San Agustin Church, Intramuros; the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; the Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Miagao, Iloilo; and the Church of San Agustin in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
- Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan;
- the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras: Batad Rice Terraces, Bangaan Rice Terraces, Mayoyao Rice Terraces, Hungduan Rice Terraces and Nagacadan Rice Terraces, all in the Ifugao Province;
- the town of Vigan, Ilocos Sur; and
- the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park
