Spotlight on Women, Peace, and Security During Commemoration of UN Peacekeepers

MANILA 03 June 2024 - The Department of Foreign Affairs placed the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda in focus during the commemoration of the 76th International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May 2024 at the SM Megamall, hosted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

The WPS agenda became a key UN priority with the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in 2000. 

Representing the DFA as part of the National Council on UN Peace Operations (NCUNPO), Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Charles C. Jose underscored Philippine commitment to the international women, peace, and security agenda, and the important role that women play in the maintenance of global peace. 

“The Philippines remains steadfast and true to its advocacies and commitments to the community of nations: championing both the rightful place of women in the world and working on the ground to ensure that the benefits of peace reach the farthest corners of the globe,” he said.

The event also commemorated Philippine participation in UN Peacekeeping operations over the years, marking 61 years since the storied “Limbas Squadron” first flew over the Congo in 1963. The Philippines has significantly contributed to international peacekeeping, having deployed more than fourteen thousand “blue helmets” since then. 

Deploying peacekeepers, Undersecretary Jose pointed out, has been “a hallmark of our country’s contribution to the maintenance of global peace and in defense of the international rules-based order.” 

On 21 May 2024, female peacekeepers shared their experiences and insights at a forum held at the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU)-Manila, organized by the DFA in partnership with NCUNPO-member agencies and LPU’s College of International Relations. 

The Philippines will also be hosting this October a high-level international conference on WPS to push the conversation forward ahead of the twenty-fifth anniversary of UNSCR 1325 next year. 

Mandated to hold the annual commemoration, the NCUNPO is composed of the Secretary of National Defense, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, and chaired by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. END