Philippines to host international conference on women, peace and security

MANILA, Philippines — The country is all set to host the International Conference on Women, Peace and Security (ICWPS) from Oct. 28 to 30, highlighting the nation’s commitment to help promote, protect and empower women across the globe, presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr. said yesterday.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) are part of the three-day conference.

The conference will feature two high-level panels that will assess the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and four thematic discussions on the policy and practical aspects of the WPS agenda’s implementation.

There will also be a special forum on multi-stakeholder and cross-regional partnerships, parliamentary roundtable dialogues on advancing the WPS agenda and 23 confirmed side events, as well as exhibits by local and international institutions and organizations.

Galvez said state representatives and civil society organizations from 73 countries have confirmed their participation in the ICWPS, with 19 ministers expected to attend, including United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

“Lasting peace for all can only be attained when women are included and given the chance to let their voices be heard,” Galvez stressed, highlighting the vital role of women prime movers in the nation’s peace processes such as the late Haydee Yorac and Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.

For her part, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman noted that the ICWPS will be utilized as a platform to encourage international development institutions and the private sector to invest in initiatives that are focused on women, peace and security.

The budget secretary said that on the second day of the conference, the parliamentary panel will allow local legislators to participate in the discussions, particularly to learn about the laws of other countries that the Philippines can adopt as best practices.

The conference is led by the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), DBM, OPAPRU and the Philippine Commission on Women.