The Philippines is deeply invested in promoting discourse on women empowerment and believes that constructive dialogue and collaboration on this matter can lead to real, transformative change in communities worldwide, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo said.

Manalo said this ahead of the country hosting the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICPWS) in Pasay City from Oct. 28 to 30, 2024.

In an op-ed piece sent to reporters, Manila's top diplomat said the Philippines believes women's empowerment is a conversation that is "profoundly important" to the country and the global community.

"Fully harnessing the power of women's leadership in building peaceful, inclusive, and resilient communities worldwide is not a policy option, but a strategic necessity. The Philippines knows this for a fact," he said.

"We take pride in Filipino women who have brokered peace processes and rebuilt communities in conflict areas. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer is the first woman in the world to sign a final peace agreement. We deploy women amongst Filipino troops in UN peacekeeping missions," he added.

According to Manalo, the conference will reflect on the nations' gains from pushing frontiers for women as integral actors in peace and security processes and governance.

It can likewise contribute to revitalizing global consensus on this agenda, especially since UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres flagged in his 2024 report a slackening in momentum, if not the reversal of gains, particularly amidst the rise of conflict, displacement, and humanitarian emergencies in parts of the world.

"The vulnerabilities of women are amplified in these settings, and the impact of conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan has gender dimensions we should not ignore," he said.

"The conference will need to take stock of these realities and recommit to putting women at the center of action, approaching them not as victims to assist but as agents of resilience, sources of solutions, stewards of the common good, and builders and keepers of peace," he added.

The UN Secretary-General’s report also noted that much remains to be done in women's representation in politics and governance, access to economic resources, access to justice, and participation in security institutions and peace, arms control, and disarmament processes.

"There are pathways to chart and carve ahead of us," Manalo said.

As the proponent of the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and, more recently in March, as chair of the 78th Session of the UN Commission of the Status of Women (CSW78), the Foreign Affairs chief said the Philippines has been deeply invested in promoting discourse on women empowerment.

"We are convinced that constructive dialogue and collaboration on this matter can lead to real, transformative change in communities worldwide," Manalo said.
  
The ICWPS is taking place exactly a year to the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Oct. 31, 2000, an instrument that Manalo said has guided global efforts on women, peace, and security.

"The Philippines considers it a duty to support UNSC 1325 as an important and unifying mandate for the international community," he said.

"It brings nations together and lends a powerful push to our shared purpose of achieving true gender equality and a more inclusive and peaceful world," he added.

To date, 110 UN member-states have adopted a National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. Thirteen regions and sub-regional organizations have launched plans and strategies.