The Philippines has co-organized a historic Parliamentary Roundtable Discussion to strengthen legislative support for the world’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) tied up with Japanese foundation Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) in hosting the discussion that was held on Oct. 29 at the sidelines of the International Conference on Women, Peace and Security in Manila.

Law and policymakers from various parts of the world, including incumbent and former Members of Parliament from Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, participated in the gathering.

“Given the participation of 11 women policy and lawmakers, it is, in itself, an embodiment of UNSCR No. 1325 in action,” the DFA said in a statement.

DFA and SPF held candid discussions, where participants acknowledged that even after 24 years since the adoption of UNSCR No. 1325, there remains gaps in the implementation of the WPS agenda across the globe in general, and in varying degrees among nations, regions and even sub-national sectors.

Given the growing uncertainty and threats to peace and security that are emerging or persisting in various regions of the world, DFA and SPF considered the recognition of these gaps as one of the most important steps in the stock-taking process that would inform the ways forward for all stakeholders.

The participants also shared their own experiences and insights on the effective ways that policymakers and lawmakers in their country or region have managed to mainstream and institutionalize the WPS agenda on the national level, particularly through the following:

• the adoption of National Action Plans (NAPs);
• the provision of fiscal support for the implementation of their WPS commitments, policies, and programs
• and the adoption of monitoring and evaluation measures that promote transparency and accountability in the use of resources meant to be utilized to realize concrete goals, such as the education and training of women security and peace keeping personnel.

Shifting to a future-oriented perspective, the participants engaged in a dynamic discussion of the opportunities for partnership for collaboration, and the proactive roles that parliamentarians could and should take in advancing the WPS agenda on the sub-national, national and regional levels, including:

• Advocating for the WPS agenda by framing it in the context of its impact on the shared interests and goals of their respective constituents, including by making the WPS agenda a cross-cutting concern for all;
• Providing fiscal support for WPS-related and adjacent programs, including the protection and empowerment of women and their children; and
• Using individual, bilateral, sectoral and regional networks of
  Parliamentarians to find common areas of cooperation and collaboration.