The Philippines is grateful for this opportunity to address the Security Council on today's open debate on the agenda item “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”. The Philippines has always considered this issue to be of special importance, taking into account its national and international dimensions.

Thirdly, the Philippines has supported a more proactive approach through concrete efforts to protect civilians in the face of imminent conflict. This proactive way of protecting people will save more lives and reduce their vulnerability to the grim consequences of conflict. In that regard, the Philippines actively provides protection during armed conflict, especially to women and children, who are the most vulnerable segment of society.

The Philippines has taken those recommendations into account. In fact, we have taken appropriate measures to integrate them in the implementation of our national policies and work plan. I am therefore pleased to inform the Council of the following concrete steps that the Philippines has taken.

The adoption of resolution 1894 (2009) on 11 November last year once again reinforced the Council's commitment to the protection of civilians by taking concrete steps towards this end by ensuring humanitarian access, providing protection mandates to peacekeeping missions, and recognizing the need for the effective monitoring and reporting of cases.

Secondly, the Philippines has consistently called for a system-wide approach where the work of United Nations bodies — namely, that of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council — on this issue is effectively integrated into the work of other entities, specialized agencies and, in applicable cases, non-governmental organizations and civil society.

In recent years, the various reports and recommendations on the protection of civilians caught in armed conflict have given us a good panoramic view of the problems associated with this issue.

In conclusion, the Philippines strongly believes that a culture of protection of civilians can be truly instilled if there is genuine domestic ownership of a culture of protection.

I cannot overemphasize the commitment of the Philippine Government to ensure the protection of civilians caught in armed conflict. We have put in place mechanisms for investigation and prosecution to deal with such cases. In that context, the Philippines enacted a new law in December of last year, namely, Republic Act No.

We consider it extremely important to develop the preventive, analytical dimension of a mission before it is deployed in order to best protect civilians and achieve an optimum understanding of the parties, reasons and circumstances of the conflict in relation to the civilian situation. More specific and appropriate mandates can be arrived at when they are developed on a more informed, case-by-case basis.

The latest report of the Secretary-General identifies various areas where progress has been made, but it also clearly notes that most of this progress is still taking place within a normative or legislative framework. Such progress contributes to the development the common of conceptual framework we all seek as the basis and guide for the protection of civilians tasks that peacekeeping operations must carry out.