UN Philippines Resident Coordinator calls for re-energizing the engagement of women in the peace process

MANILA, 28 October 2020 -- Speaking at the commemoration today of the 20th year anniversary of the signing of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, United Nations Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said that the catalytic role of women in peace and security has long been recognized and that this recognition must be transformed into very concrete policies, practice, approaches, actions and institutions.

"We need to start walking the talk." said Gonzalez. "As ambassadors of peace, we still have a long way to go."

The commemorative event, entitled Community of Practice on Women, Peace and Security: Celebrating gains, identifying good practices and working onwards to fulfilling UNSCR 1325, was organized by UN Women Philippines, in collaboration with Women Engaged in Action on 1325 (WEACT 1325) and with the support of the Embassy of Norway in Manila.

Gonzalez quoted peace activist Rosa Emilia Salamanca Gonzalez, who said, “People want women to do everything, because we are resilient. But it is time to shift from resilience to justice.” 

Gonzalez said that this is the shift that he is calling for.

Data from 2018 shows that globally, women represented only 13 per cent of those that are part of the conflict resolution process, and only 4 percent of those that sign peace agreements that would determine the future of the country.

"That is why we have to make sure that this call to action is reenergized," Gonzalez added. "We need better engagement of women in the conflict resolution process. There is a mountain of evidence on the correlation between women’s participation and the sustainability of peace."

Meanwhile, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, cited the Philippines' distinction of being the first nation in Asia to create and adopt a national action plan on women, peace and security. He said, "This shows our commitment and sincerity to ensure that the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 are being upheld as we carry out measures to address issues of armed conflict throughout the country."

The UN Resident Coordinator touted the UN Philippines project that will be implemented by UN Women and the UN International Organization for Migration and which has at its heart the empowerment of women peacebuilders. "This will be a global best practice," said Gonzalez, "and my first contribution to this endeavor."

Gonzalez acknowledged the important role that civil society organizations have played in shaping the adoption and implementation of U Security Council Resolution 1325. He cited the work of WEACT1325 which led the preparation of the first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security which was adopted in 2010.

Galvez said that, "As a son, husband and father I know how women can make a huge difference and impact in the family’s decision-making processes and this is equally true in our work for peace. Thanks to our women peacebuilders, peacekeepers and peace negotiators we are now witnessing the broad and sweeping changes in the peace process whose effects are now being felt throughout the country."

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was the first formal and legal document from the Security Council that required parties in a conflict to prevent violations of women's rights, to support women's participation in peace negotiations and in post-conflict reconstruction, and to protect women and girls from wartime sexual violence.