The Philippines has been elected to head a special committee of the United Nations, which was established by former UN Secretary General Carlos P. Romulo in 1975.

In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine Mission to the UN in New York disclosed that the country was elected to chair the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, a brainchild of former UN Secretary General Carlos P. Romulo.

The special committee for the 2010 Session is headed by Ambassador Carlos Sorreta, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN and former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. said the Philippines’ chairmanship to the 2010 Session of the special committee is significant as it is one of the lasting legacies of the former UN Secretary General.

“The Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations is a lasting legacy that the Philippines and General Romulo has given to the United Nations,” Davide said.

“It is significant that the Philippines will chair this key United Nations body as it observes its 35th year,” he added.

The UN Special Committee started its work last March 1, according to the DFA, with plans of accomplishing its task by the end of the week.

These include strengthening the UN’s role in maintaining international peace and security; proper application of sanctions; peaceful settlement of disputes; assisting third States affected by disputes; and requesting for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), particularly on the use of force without prior approval by the UN Security Council (UNSC).

It will be recalled that then UN Secretary General Carlos P. Romulo had established the Special Committee to examine proposals that would boost UN’s role in maintaining peace and security, advancing cooperation among nations, and promoting international law.

Carlos P. Romulo served as the President of the Fourth Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) from 1949 to 1950 and was chairman of the UN Security Council. He was also the signatory for the Philippines to the UN Charter when it was founded in 1946.