The Senate of the Philippines passed a resolution expressing full support for the United Nations' review of its peacekeeping and special political missions. The UN Secretary-General established an independent panel to review UN operations in light of new challenges. The panel, chaired by a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and composed of 13 other members from different countries, will examine issues like changing conflicts, mandates, partnerships, and protection of civilians. The resolution notes that a review is timely given challenges faced recently by Philippine peacekeepers in Syria. It reaffirms the Philippines' commitment to UN peacekeeping as a founding UN member.

1. P. S. Res. No. JO·14
~puh1it of tql' tJlfilippinn
~!Iugnss !If fqe ltqi!ippines
~rttaft
RESOLUTION No. 69
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE FULL SUPPORT OF
THE SE:ATE TO THE REvlEW OF PEACEKEEPI:G
OPERATIO:S AND SPECIAL POLITICAL MISSIONS
CONDGCTED BY THE Ul'<1TED :ATlON'S IN LIGHT
OF CHANGES IN THE GEOPOLITICAL LA)"1)SCAPE
A:D RISKS FACED BY l.'NITED NATIONS
INTER:ATlONAL MISSIONS
WHEREAS, on 31 October 2014. Guited Nati()ns
Secretary·General Ban Kj,moon announced the creation of a
High Level Independent Panel ()n Peace Operations, which
will review the peacekeeping aud special political missions
oonducted by the international organization in light of new
challenges in the oouduct of these operations;

2. 2
WHEREAS, this High Level Panel shall be <:haired by
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta (Timor-Leste)
and romposed of thirteen (13) other members nam<)ly, Jean
Arnault (France); Abhijit Guha (India); Ameerah Haq
(Bangladesh); Andrew Hughes (Australia); AIexande~ Ilitchev
(Russia); Hilde F. Johnson (Not'way); Bruce Jones (Canada);
Youssef Mahmoud (Tunisia); Ian Martin (United Kingdom);
Henrietta Joy Abena Nyarko Mensa-Bonsu (Ghana):· B. Lynn
Pascoe (US); Floriano Peixoto Vieira Neto (Brazil); and Wang
Xuexian (China). They shall be tasked to conduct a major
external review of peace operations, and their findings shall be .
taken up for consideration by the UN General AssemjJly at its
2015 General Debate;
WHEREAS, among the broad range of issues to be
rovered by the review are the following: the cbanging nature
of conflict, evolving mandates, peace building challenges,
managerial and administrative arrangements, planning.
partnerships, human rights and protection of civilians,
uniformed capabilities for peacekeeping operations and
performance, thus the highly-diverse membership of Its Panel;
WHEREAS, this comprehensIve assessment, is both
relevant and timely given the challenges experifnced by
Philippine peacekeepers during the conduct of its mission at
Golan Heights in Syria in August 2014 when they were
forced to defend themselves against Syrian rebels and
reposition to avoid further hro'm;
WHEREAS, despite the eruption of civil war within Syria
in 2011, the Philippines, along with only six other Icountries
such as Fiji. India, Ireland. Nepal and the Netherlimds, has
remained in order to maintain order in Golan Heights as an
area of separation and de·escalation of conllict betw~en Syria
and Israel;
WHERE.-S, being a founding Member-State of the United
Nations and in keeping with its obligations to the
international community, the Philippines has at various times
deployed peacekeepers to war-torn areas like Kore~, Congo,
Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, Cote d'Ivoire! Darfur,
Georgia, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Kosovo, Nepal, Sudan >lnd Timor
Leste: Now, therefore, be it

3. 3
Resol!;ed, as it is hereby resolved, To express the full
support of the Senate te the review of peacekeeping operations
and special political missions conducted hy the United Nations
in light of changes in the geopolitical landscape and risks
faced by United Nations international missions.
Adopted.
This Resolution
January 21. 2015.
~BES
Secretary of the Senate
o
on