At the residence of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, officials from Norway and the Philippines met to push a clear point: peace lasts longer when women are part of it.
The forum, held in partnership with Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, focused on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, Manila Bulletin reports. It brought together government representatives and peacebuilders to discuss how to turn policy into real impact.
Norwegian Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster stressed that including women is no longer optional.
“Peace is more durable, more legitimate and more resilient when women are included,” he said.
For Norway, this is a core part of its international work. The country has long supported peace efforts in the Philippines, including as a facilitator in negotiations.
The Philippines, in turn, is moving from policy to action. Presidential Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. said the WPS agenda is now being implemented on the ground.
“The agenda is no longer just an aspiration,” he noted.
Women have played key roles in local peace efforts in the Philippines for decades, often outside formal systems. Now, both countries are working to ensure they are included at all levels.
Global data continues to show the gap. Women remain underrepresented in peace negotiations, despite evidence that agreements last longer when they are involved.
