Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla has called for “real actions” to address displacement of people due to humanitarian crises, armed conflicts and climate change.
“The growing and continuing forced displacement of peoples from all over lead us to the conclusion that the global humanitarian agenda is, and must be, about people, their well-being, health, livelihood, and basic human dignity,” Remulla said last Monday, Oct. 10.
He spoked during the 73rd Session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Program of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Remulla pointed out that the Philippines affirms and confirms “our continuing, strong and active support and cooperation to ensure the success of the global humanitarian agenda.”
“Despite our being a modest country, facing serious domestic issues like the energy crises, climate change, and disaster-induced internal displacement, we stand hand in hand with the international community in pushing the boundaries of how much we can help, to go beyond our comfort zone,” he stressed.
He said it has been the advocacy of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to “rally for an international system that must work for the most vulnerable, especially the marginalized, migrants, refugees.”
“Our national development plan also gives a clear directive to uplevel our policies and programs,” he also said.
“We assure the High Commissioner of the Philippines' resolve to continue to be one of this organization’s most vocal ally,” he declared.
Remulla said that the Philippines is “a nation of migrants, a land of people on the move, a safe haven for nine waves of refugees fleeing persecution” with a history “replete with images of our welcoming of refugees from all over the world under our longstanding open-door policy towards displaced people and other persons of concern.”
“This year, we ratified the 1961 Statelessness Convention, passed the Foundling Act, established an inter-agency body for protection services, and piloted Complimentary Pathways for Rohingyas,” he cited.
“We are also already looking ahead. Our focus is refining our small but scalable programs that suit our own national condition as a modest host country, while also remaining a donor to UNHCR and other humanitarian funds. Our vision is for my country to continue to carve its niche and become an example of how us in the ‘missing middle’ can help carry the burden as member of our community of nations,” he added.
To UNHCR, Remulla said: “It is imperative that we must take real action and solid plans, not mere token gestures, to help ensure a better future for the displaced and the most vulnerable, including women and children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and indigenous peoples.”
He said there must be “a clear direction to the UNHCR on how to integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation, with defined action areas and operational guidelines, in the work of the organization.”
Thus, he said, there should be “sufficient support for developing countries to address climate change displacement, which is within the obligations under the Paris Agreement.”
“We must also ensure that the global food crisis and the rising inflation do not detract from our ability to deliver humanitarian services, nor create more vulnerabilities for displaced persons,” he also said.
“This requires political will from all parties, including ending protracted and new crises, and demanding comprehensive political solutions to end conflict and build enduring peace,” he added.
He then urged nations to “ensure that the UNHCR has the resources and political support to fulfill its mandate.”
“Our vision is also for an efficient fit-for-purpose UNHCR that can respond with agility and efficiency to any humanitarian crises, in any part of the world,” he said.
He also urged for “for equitable attention to different crises in different regions -- to ensure that no refugee situation and no hosting community remain ignored or underfunded.”
There is the “need to provide sufficient support for all hosting communities, who do much of the heavy lifting and divert limited resources to help those in need” and “emphasize the generosity of donors, and urge them to explore how assistance can be scaled up,” he said.
He added that there is “an urgency to broaden the base of support beyond traditional donors and traditional hosting countries” and, because of this, expressed hope that “middle countries can also become formidable, pro-active voices and champions, who can fill in gaps where needed, and increase contributions where possible.”
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