22 June 2004, United Nations, New York – In addition to presiding over today’s UN Security Council deliberations on the theme “Civil society in post-conflict peace-building,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert also articulated the policy position of the Philippines on this subject in her country statement.  In her statement, the Secretary said that “in efforts to re-build peace on more enduring foundations, governments, as well as the United Nations, can be helped
by a caring and sharing civil society.” (text available at www.dfa.gov.ph)
 
“Civil society must be compassionate, but resolute, helping suffering peoples let go of negative ill-feelings, grasp the value of reconciliation, concentrate on re-integration and reconstruction, and rehabilitate society through hard work and dedication,” the Secretary told the UN Security Council.  She added that with the help of civil society, governments and the United Nations should aim to re-strengthen the national self-confidence and social fabric of traumatized peoples; to encourage and assist them help themselves overcome enormous human-security challenges.

The Secretary pointed out that faith groups, as civil society members, could also have a role. “Let me interject at this point a notion that is by no means new, but deserves keener appreciation—namely, the role of faith groups, as civil society actors, in conflict prevention and post-conflict peace building.

Religions do preach peace, not violence, forgiveness not revenge.  Upholding human dignity, justice, accountability, and the rule of law, they exercise a strong moral influence.  Based on in-depth appreciation of problems, their inputs to conflict-prevention and post-conflict peace-building plans and implementation should be optimized,” the Secretary said in her statement.

In closing, the Secretary said “When conflict ends, healing must begin, and civil society, government and the United Nations, must stand together, bravely, past the frontiers of conflict.” END.