Women’s role in peacebuilding takes centerstage in ASEAN conference

MANILA — The role of women in peacebuilding took centerstage as ASEAN tackled peace and security issues on its agenda on Wednesday.

“Women know when families are struggling, when tensions are rising, and when children are losing opportunities. Their insights can help the government respond early and respond well,” Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Mel Senen Sarmiento said as he opened the WPS Conference.

Sarmiento said the government were pursuing an executive order to institutionalize the localization of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

“We want WPS integrated into local planning, budgeting, service delivery, and peacebuilding,” he said.

“We want local governments to develop action plans grounded in their communities’ needs, with clear responsibilities for national agencies, local governments, civil society, and other partners,” he added.

Women leaders across the region, led by the Philippine Commission on Women, participated in the conference.

“Imagine a woman peacebuilder attending a local planning meeting. She raises concerns about displaced families, violence against women, or unsafe routes to school. Is she heard? Do her concerns become part of the development plan? Is funding provided? Can she help monitor the results? The answers tell us whether participation makes a difference,” Sarmiento asked.

Sarmiento said women can bridge gaps between sectors and resolve conflicts better.

“Depending on local needs, this could mean supporting women mediators, improving services for survivors of violence, or creating livelihood opportunities for women in communities recovering from conflict,” Sarmiento said.

“Women must help identify those priorities, design the response, and assess whether it works,” he added.