CLOSING REMARKS

H.E. Enrique A. Manalo

Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines

CEREMONIAL LAUNCH OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY (NAPWPS) 2023 – 2033

11 December 2023, Monday,

Meeting Room 12, Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City

Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr.,

Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Executive Director of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation,

Excellencies and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Ms. Amina Rasul-Bernardo, President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy,

Partners from UN Women, civil society organizations, and NGOs,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

As we embark on the implementation of a new Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), it is paramount to recognize that the roots of this endeavor are deeply embedded in the history of our nation.

The strength and resilience of Filipino women have been evident throughout the ages, from the wisdom of pre-colonial Babaylans to the revolutionary spirits of Melchora Aquino, Gregoria de Jesus, Teresa Magbanua, and the valiant Gabriela Silang. Their indelible contributions are woven into the very fabric of our country's journey towards freedom and justice. Their unwavering determination demonstrated that women have consistently been at the forefront of movements for peace and justice throughout our history.

Our commitment to the WPS agenda is not just a contemporary initiative — it is a continuation of a legacy that has always aspired for peace, equality, justice and freedom which are now enshrined in our 1987 Constitution. This commitment extends beyond our borders, finding resonance in our engagements with the United Nations, ASEAN, and other international organizations.

Our advocacy for the WPS agenda resonates loudly in ASEAN. During the Philippine Chairmanship in 2017, ASEAN Leaders issued a groundbreaking statement prioritizing the needs and rights of women in conflict-affected areas.

The establishment of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry in 2018 in Cebu City further exemplified our commitment to a gendered approach to peace and conflict in the region. The ASEAN region actively manifests  its solidarity in empowering women and girls with the work of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).

Globally, the Philippines has been unwavering in our commitment to UN peacekeeping operations. With a proud tradition of 60 years and over 14,000 Filipino peacekeepers in 21 UN missions, our commitment includes increasing deployments of skilled female peacekeepers, recognizing their vital role in the success of these operations. Having females comprising more than half of the current active Filipino UN peacekeepers is a concrete example of just how committed the Philippines is to the WPS Agenda.

While we have advanced women’s rights, and without diminishing the critical role of women in peacebuilding and peacekeeping, it cannot be denied that women are disproportionately impacted by armed conflict.

Acknowledging this disproportionate impact, the Philippines spearheads biennial UN General Assembly Resolutions addressing violence against women migrant workers and trafficking in women and girls, including during armed conflicts. We actively champion gender equality and women’s empowerment in annual UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meetings, contributing to historic outcomes such as the elimination of violence and discrimination against women-themed 2013 CSW outcome document. 

The Philippines was endorsed by the Asia Pacific Group (APG) to Chair the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) next year, where we will champion the WPS agenda, both in promoting the transformative potential of women and advancing the rights of vulnerable women in situations of armed conflict. The Philippines will lead the work in mobilizing financing for WPS initiatives and investing in institutions that promote and highlight women’s active role in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and social justice and inclusion.

The world can count on the Philippines to continue to champion the WPS Agenda in these global fora - this being a strong extension of our domestic agenda and priorities. It is a point of pride for all Filipinos that the Philippines was the first country in the Indo-Pacific to adopt and implement a National Action Plan on WPS, and today, we are breaking new grounds for the Filipino nation and the world with a forward-looking  10-year action plan that is configured within the framework of new opportunities and challenges in the 21st century.

Today, we heard from our speakers how the  WPS Agenda informs the BARMM Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (RAPWPS). Reflections from former women combatants on the Normalization process provide invaluable insights into the multifaceted dimensions of peacebuilding. These narratives contribute to a nuanced understanding of the challenges and triumphs that women encounter in the pursuit of peace. This reinforces the importance of gender inclusivity in all facets of our national agenda.

This new chapter of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security is woven with success stories, inspirations from our national experience and history, and aspirations for prosperous, inclusive, and human communities of our land and shores.  The inclusion of women in peace processes and nation-building is not just a contemporary necessity, but a legacy that speaks to the very soul of our nation.

Thank you.