OPENING REMARKS OF SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY

OPENING REMARKS OF SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY
PICC, PASAY CITY
29 October 2025

Excellencies, fellow parliamentarians, partners, good afternoon.

It is a privilege to welcome you to this Parliamentary Roundtable on the second day of the International Conference on Women, Peace and Security.

With more than 80 states participating, the global nature of this conference signifies the shared sense of responsibility of UN member-states for advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

The Philippines is honored by the overwhelming global response to our invitation.

Standing among champions of gender equality this afternoon, I sense our shared purpose to push the frontiers for women worldwide and to break down barriers in decision-making processes, especially in the fields of peace and security. This space has been, for far too long, dominated by men.

As we prepare for the 25th year of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, there are accomplishments and lessons to share, but also challenges for which we need to muster a stronger common purpose. Parliamentarians and legislators are at the frontline of reshaping the landscapes that will enable women to participate and lead in building sustainable peace.

Globally, the role of women in peace processes has often been underestimated. The Philippines has much to share about our experience and understanding of the power of women’s voices. Our National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAPWPS) was Southeast Asia’s first and remains a testament to our nation’s commitment to ensuring women play active, central roles in shaping our future.

Not one to settle for less, we have actively measured and pursued avenues to learn from our national experience and the stories of our women to create a transformative fourth National Action Plan that shifts the perceptions of women as agents, rather than passive actors in times of conflict. Our experience in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is a story in itself of the path-breaking role of women in making and building peace, and making it flourish.

We have engaged actively in our region on the Women, Peace and Security agenda: building active networks and learning from each other, under the auspices of the
ASEAN.

The Manila Declaration that was adopted yesterday resonates as a clarion call to elevate global attention to the WPS agenda. This call for hope and action cannot be more pressing under the global climate of uncertainty and transformation. I wish to note how this landmark document recognizes the interconnectedness of security, climate, and gender equality, and the crucial role of climate change mitigation and adaptation, and financing strategies in addressing the harmful effects of climate change, and environmental damage caused by armed conflict, particularly on women and girls.

The raging conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, and the complex humanitarian emergencies in places like Yemen and Myanmar, are all too powerful reminders of how much investment we have to make in women, as transformative actors in our societies, in times of peace and conflict.

Dear honorable fellow Parliamentarians,

At the heart of this conference is our intention to reaffirm gender equality and advocate for women’s leadership in making our societies more inclusive, more humane, more peaceful, and more resilient.

This parliamentary roundtable highlights the critical voice of Parliamentarians in shaping such transformation.

Beginning with our role in putting forward the first draft of the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Philippines has stood firm in its role as a global gender champion. This has a strong national anchor. From the Magna Carta of Women to the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act – laws I personally championed – the Philippines has established a legislative framework that continues to prioritize the protection and empowerment of women. We are not simply reacting to gender based violence in all its forms; we are proactively creating spaces for women as peacebuilders and leaders.

In my almost three decades of legislative experience, I have realized that the road towards addressing the unique needs of women in conflict areas requires practical measures, in terms of resources and financing, and gender-responsive policies. I very much look forward to listening to your perspectives, your triumphs and take-away, and your innovative approaches suited to the unique cultural and political contexts.

This is what this conference is all about. It is about enriching and expanding our appreciation and understanding of the many ways we are all championing the rights and well-being of women and empowering them in all aspects of their participation in our societies, including as leaders in peace and security. This is how we harness the collective: to learn, to listen, and to carve new pathways together on this very important agenda that belongs to all nations.

Moving forward, it is my hope that we, as a group of parliamentarians, can harness our roles to collectively promote and strengthen WPS initiatives and legislation towards eradicating barriers that hinder women from self-determining their destinies in every corner of the world.

With focused legislation that promotes gender equality and gender-responsive budgeting, we can build better foundations for women’s leadership in conflict prevention, resolution, and recovery. As lawmakers, we have the responsibility not only to create these enabling legal frameworks but also to ensure their sustained implementation, but also to amplify this commitment nationally, regionally, and globally. This legislative leadership is key to transforming commitments into lasting, tangible, and enduring change.

Dear fellow Parliamentarians and legislators,

I stand in awe of the remarkable achievements each of you has contributed to advance gender equality as you have helped shape your nation’s destiny. I stand in complete confidence that our roundtable will be an insightful conversation of fellow gender champions who are determined to make women’s full, equal, and meaningful contributions to peace and security, more and more the norm, and less the exception, in our respective nations.

Thank you everyone, and isang luntiang Pilipinas sa ating lahat!