RP elected one of 4 United Nations VPs for Asia

The Philippines was formally elected yesterday as one of the four vice presidents for Asia of the 61st United Nations General Assembly in September.

The Philippine Mission to the United Nations reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the country was elected by the 191 member states of the world body.

Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr., permanent Philippine representative to the UN, said the Philippines will assume its seat when the 61st Session of the General Assembly opens in New York in September.

"The election of the Philippines as vice president of the 61st General Assembly is an honor awarded to the country," Baja said. "We should take advantage of this opportunity to push our initiatives in the United Nations and project our country further as a dynamic and responsible member of the family of nations."

Manila was endorsed for the position by the powerful Asian Group, which also recommended Bhutan, Indonesia, and Kuwait for the three other vice presidential seats reserved for Asia.

According to Baja, Manila last sat in the General Assembly in 2003. Baja was unanimously elected chairman of the Sixth (Legal) Committee.

As one of the vice presidents, the Philippines becomes a member of the General Committee, which is composed of the president of the General Assembly, 21 vice presidents, and the chairs of the six main committees.

He noted that the General Committee considers the provisional agenda and the supplementary list, considers requests for the inclusion of additional items on the agenda, allocates items to committees, and submits its report for the approval of the General Assembly.

The General Committee also assists the President in drawing up the agenda for plenary meetings, determining the priority of agenda items, coordinating the proceedings of the committees and the general conduct of the work of the General Assembly that falls within the president’s competence. It may also make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning the closing date of the session. It may not, however, decide on any political question.

The Philippines also won a seat in the new 47-member United Nations Human Rights Council last month, despite calls to reject the country’s candidacy.

Of the 191 member states, the Philippines received 136 votes, which is more than the absolute majority of 96 votes required to secure a seat in the UN’s top human rights body.

Baja said that the Philippines’ election speaks well of the country’s human rights record as the UN General Assembly resolution to establish the Human Rights Council required member states to take into account the contribution of candidate countries to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments for that purpose when casting their ballots.

He explained that member states are under no obligation to elect a candidate that does not demonstrate the necessary commitment to protect human rights regardless of how many ballots are required to fill all seats on the UN Human Rights Council.