PH hosts 2026 ASEAN WPS Conference to boost regional Women, Peace and Security efforts

MANILA, Philippines – As the ASEAN Chair for 2026, the Philippines, will host the ASEAN Conference on Women, Peace and Security from October 6 to 8 in Metro Manila, bringing together ASEAN member-states, regional institutions, civil society, women peacebuilders, development partners, learning institutions, and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation on WPS across the region.

Anchored on the theme, “Advancing Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Localizing Peacebuilding Commitments,” the Conference reflects the spirit of the Philippine ASEAN Chairship theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” which highlights the need for stronger regional cooperation, localized action, and shared learning on WPS.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), as Chair and Vice Chair of the National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security, will lead the Philippines’ hosting of the Conference. The Philippines, through PCW, also chairs the 2025-2026 ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW).

Carrying forward a shared ASEAN journey

“It is a privilege for the Philippines to host this year’s conference as part of ASEAN’s continuing journey on Women, Peace and Security. We bring lessons from our own experience, knowing that there is also much to learn from the experiences of our ASEAN neighbors,” Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento said.“This is an opportunity to listen to one another and move forward together,” Sec. Sarmiento stressed.

It was also during the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2017 that ASEAN leaders adopted the Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security. Since then, ASEAN has continued to build on this shared commitment, including the adoption of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on WPS in 2022.

The Philippines has achieved major strides since adopting its first NAPWPS in 2010. Its experience in implementing the WPS agenda and pursuing peace processes across the country has brought lessons on sustaining dialogue, honoring commitments, localizing peacebuilding, and creating meaningful space for women and communities to shape and sustain peace.

“Our experience has taught us that peace is built over time and sustained by people. Agreements and policies provide the foundation, but their true value is in how they improve lives and create space for people, especially women, to participate and lead,” Sec. Sarmiento said.“These are lessons we bring to the Conference, alongside our willingness to learn from the rest of ASEAN,” he added.

Putting women’s livedql realities at the center

“Women across ASEAN experience peace and security in different ways. Their knowledge and lived realities must have a place in the decisions we make. When women can participate meaningfully, exercise leadership, and shape solutions, we are better able to build peace that responds to the realities of our communities,” PCW and 2026 ACW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla said.

The Conference’s plenary and breakout discussions will focus on strengthening regional cooperation mechanisms, localizing WPS commitments, and promoting cross-border learning and policy harmonization, These dialogues aim to bring ASEAN institutions and member-states together with civil society, women peacebuilders, communities, learning institutions, and development partners.

“Advancing WPS requires us to work across institutions and sectors, while keeping women’s experiences at the center. Regional commitments become meaningful when women have a voice in how these are translated into action in their countries and communities,” Valdeavilla said.

Carrying dialogue into action

The Conference is expected to culminate In the crafting of an Outcome Document that contains recommendations that were developed through the plenary and breakout discussions to help advance WPS implementation and cooperation across ASEAN.

The recommendations will go through the ASEAN’s review process and will be forwarded to ASEAN decision-makers during the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting in November 2026.

The Conference also seeks to contribute to the production of knowledge materials, which  capture the experiences and lessons from the ground, helping bring women’s voices and lived realities into the broader ASEAN discourse on WPS.