The Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), in partnership with the International Studies Department, Center for Peace Education, and the Center for Legislative Development, organized the forum, “Gender, Peace, and Security: Challenges and Opportunities in Uncertain Times” last May 25 with guest speaker Prof. Anne Marie Goetz, former UN Policy Director of Governance, Peace and Security.
Goetz talked about the institutionalization of the Gender, Peace, and Security agenda in the arenas of international peace, security, and foreign policy as brought about by a strong emerging feminist presence in these fields. She mentioned that the agenda is often relegated to minimal priority and underfunding by the male-dominated international institutions. She calls for feminists around the world to promote women’s rights and to expose groups, states, and institutions who deny or attack women. Ultimately, there is a need for a feminist analysis on gender, peace, and security on the international level, and capacity-building in the protection of women’s rights and participation to deter sexual and gender-based violence.
The forum was attended by the Miriam College community, peace groups, the academe, Commission on Human Rights, Philippine Commission on Women, Commission on Elections, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, National Defense College, and the Philippine Army.
