PH assumes chairmanship of UN Legal Committee of 80th UNGA

UNITED NATIONS, New York - The Philippines formally assumed on Friday the chairmanship of the Sixth Committee (Legal) of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Ambassador Enrique Manalo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, delivered an opening statement at the opening session of the Sixth Committee (Legal) at the Trusteeship Council Chamber at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The Sixth Committee is one of the UN’s main committees dealing with legal questions, as well as the codification and progressive development of international law. It serves as the UN General Assembly’s primary forum for legal matters.

Manalo expressed his gratitude to Member States for their confidence in electing him as chairman.

“It is a great honor and privilege for me personally and for my country, the Philippines, and is in line with our long-standing commitment to the rule of law,” he said.

In his remarks, Manalo highlighted the Sixth Committee’s vital mandate.

“The role of the Sixth Committee and its authority among Main Committees is unique, as is the significance of international law for the achievement of the goals of the United Nations. In the preamble of the Charter, the peoples of the United Nations reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights and the determination of this Organization to establish conditions under which justice and respect for international law can be maintained. In the pursuance of its lofty goals, the General Assembly has always relied on the diligent work and expertise of the Sixth Committee,” he said.

Manalo urged delegations to uphold the Committee’s tradition of consensus-building and cooperation, emphasizing that its work comes at a crucial time for multilateralism, as international law faces mounting global challenges.

“At times of increased challenges, our work gains heightened importance, and our commitment to delivering its mandate should gain renewed focus,” he stated.

During its opening session, the Committee adopted its program of work for the session, which includes 34 agenda items, and established three working groups—on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, and Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters (PPED).

The Philippines will continue to chair the Working Group on PPED, which aims to advance work on a treaty on disasters.

"The Philippines’ chairpersonship of the Sixth Committee and the PPED Working Group underscore the country’s continuing commitment to promoting the rule of law, and in upholding the mandate of the United Nations towards codification and progressive development of international law under the Charter of the United Nations," the Department of Foreign Affairs said. —KG, GMA Integrated News