The Philippines launched its Women, Peace, and Security Center of Excellence (WPS CoE) on March 27 in Pasig City, becoming the first in the Asia-Pacific region.
Spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), the center aims to advance the global Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.
“As nations throughout the world come together to move forward the women, peace, and security agenda, the establishment of a WPS Center of Excellence in the Philippines is truly a major milestone not only for our country but for the global WPS agenda as a whole,” OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez said.
The WPS CoE focuses on empowering women in peacebuilding, localizing WPS principles, and strengthening partnerships for gender equality. Key stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, international partners, and organizations like UN Women and the European Union, participated in the launch.
Officials highlighted the center’s role as a collaborative platform for peace, conflict transformation, and capacity-building. The initiative aligns with the Philippines’ commitment to gender equality, bolstering its leadership in advancing the WPS agenda both regionally and globally.