he UN’s Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda transcends policy frameworks—it embodies a global movement and an urgent call to action for inclusive peacebuilding. Anchored in the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, it underscores the indispensable role of women in preventing conflict, resolving disputes, and leading post–conflict recovery efforts. In Asia, the Philippines was the first country to adopt a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP–WPS) and is now advancing its fourth iteration. Yet, 25 years since the agenda’s inception, significant challenges remain in mainstreaming and localizing its principles, particularly in conflict–affected regions in Asia.
Why Localizing the WPS Agenda Matters
Localizing the WPS agenda involves adapting the global principles of UNSCR 1325 to meet the unique needs and realities of specific communities. This approach is essential for adapting to local realities, empowering communities, building local capacity, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring accountability.
Localization requires a deep understanding of grassroots dynamics and the specific challenges communities face. Lessons from various initiatives highlight the importance of tailored training programs that equip local leaders—both women and men—with skills to advocate effectively for gender–sensitive policies. Partnerships between local organizations and international entities are also vital, fostering knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and the amplification of local voices while integrating global expertise.
Eight strategies for embedding the WPS agenda
Language and linguistic inclusivity
Language plays a pivotal role in making the WPS agenda accessible. In Mindanao, where local dialects are widely spoken, translating key documents—such as UNSCR 1325 and particularly the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan into local dialects such as Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausog, Bisaya, Ilonggo, etc. is crucial. Linguistic inclusivity ensures women from all linguistic backgrounds and literacy levels can understand and engage with peacebuilding efforts, fostering a more participatory process.
Ownership through co–creation
Localization thrives when inclusive, people–centered, and community–driven processes are prioritized. Civil society organizations (CSOs) and local and international NGOs must create safe spaces where community members—particularly women and girls—can share their experiences and co–develop practical, context–specific solutions. Building on grassroots best practices fosters trust and ensures genuine ownership and sustainability of WPS initiatives.
Context, culture, and gender sensitivity
The Philippine’s cultural and religious norms shape WPS implementation. While women play vital roles in community life, patriarchal systems often limit their participation in formal peace processes. Localization efforts should:
- Support grassroots, women–led conflict prevention initiatives.
- Integrate Islamic and indigenous teachings and practices for greater acceptance.
- Involve men and boys as allies to challenge gender biases and promote inclusivity.
Accountability through localized mechanisms
Establishing localized monitoring and evaluation systems is essential to tracking progress, addressing gaps, and ensuring commitments translate into tangible outcomes for communities.
Lifelong commitment, not a passing trend
As we approach its 25th anniversary, some may view the WPS agenda as a mere trend, a checkbox in projects or curricula. However, it is far more than that—it is a steadfast call to drive enduring, transformative change. Across the globe, women courageously risk their lives to uplift voices that are silenced, striving to cultivate peace in regions scarred by conflict. In Mindanao, the sacrifices of women on the frontlines underscore the critical necessity for genuine participation, robust protection, and sustained support efforts.
Intergenerational collaboration
The Philippines population spans multiple generations, each with unique experiences of conflict and peacebuilding:
- Generation X recalls the Martial Law era.
- Millennials endured armed conflicts in the 2000s.
- Gen Z grew up amidst the 2017 Marawi siege and violent extremism.
- Gen Alpha inherits these legacies.
Facilitating intergenerational dialogues bridges gaps, combining elders’ wisdom with the innovative, tech–savvy approaches of younger generations to create a holistic peace framework.
Zones of Resilient Healing
From armed conflicts and health crises to climate emergencies and global political and economic upheavals—including Trump’s USAID funding freeze—communities worldwide have endured deep and lasting scars. In the face of these challenges, normalizing conversations on mental health and fostering resilient healing are essential.
For local peacebuilders, safe spaces for dialogue are not just necessary; they are transformative. These spaces allow them to process trauma, sustain their vital work, and nurture collective well–being—fortifying the very foundation of peacebuilding efforts. Resilient healing is not just about survival; it is about reclaiming strength, fostering solidarity, and ensuring that those on the frontlines of peace are not left behind.
Equity and Inclusion for All
Localization must uplift marginalized groups and amplify underrepresented voices. Genuine and lasting peace in diverse communities is only possible when everyone has a seat at the table and the power to shape their future.
The localization of the WPS agenda is crucial to ensuring that the principles of UNSCR 1325 are not just policies but lived realities, deeply embedded in the unique contexts of conflict–affected regions across Asia—particularly in Mindanao, Philippines. By embracing local cultures, languages, and traditions, and prioritizing community–driven, gender–sensitive solutions, we can create peacebuilding efforts that are both inclusive and sustainable. Women, in particular, are not just participants but powerful agents of change whose leadership is essential for meaningful and lasting transformation. As we move forward, the WPS agenda must go beyond rhetoric and take root in the daily lives of communities, empowering every member to co–create a future defined by peace, resilience, and justice.
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How to localize the UN’s Women, Peace, and Security agenda
Photo by Stephanie Ecate on Unsplash.
March 24, 2025
Localizing the UN’s Women, Peace, and Security agenda ensures inclusive, community-driven peacebuilding in conflict-affected regions, writes Jamila-Aisha P. Sanguila.
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he UN’s Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda transcends policy frameworks—it embodies a global movement and an urgent call to action for inclusive peacebuilding. Anchored in the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, it underscores the indispensable role of women in preventing conflict, resolving disputes, and leading post–conflict recovery efforts. In Asia, the Philippines was the first country to adopt a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP–WPS) and is now advancing its fourth iteration. Yet, 25 years since the agenda’s inception, significant challenges remain in mainstreaming and localizing its principles, particularly in conflict–affected regions in Asia.
Why Localizing the WPS Agenda Matters
Localizing the WPS agenda involves adapting the global principles of UNSCR 1325 to meet the unique needs and realities of specific communities. This approach is essential for adapting to local realities, empowering communities, building local capacity, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring accountability.
Localization requires a deep understanding of grassroots dynamics and the specific challenges communities face. Lessons from various initiatives highlight the importance of tailored training programs that equip local leaders—both women and men—with skills to advocate effectively for gender–sensitive policies. Partnerships between local organizations and international entities are also vital, fostering knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and the amplification of local voices while integrating global expertise.
Eight strategies for embedding the WPS agenda
Language and linguistic inclusivity
Language plays a pivotal role in making the WPS agenda accessible. In Mindanao, where local dialects are widely spoken, translating key documents—such as UNSCR 1325 and particularly the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan into local dialects such as Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausog, Bisaya, Ilonggo, etc. is crucial. Linguistic inclusivity ensures women from all linguistic backgrounds and literacy levels can understand and engage with peacebuilding efforts, fostering a more participatory process.
Ownership through co–creation
Localization thrives when inclusive, people–centered, and community–driven processes are prioritized. Civil society organizations (CSOs) and local and international NGOs must create safe spaces where community members—particularly women and girls—can share their experiences and co–develop practical, context–specific solutions. Building on grassroots best practices fosters trust and ensures genuine ownership and sustainability of WPS initiatives.
Context, culture, and gender sensitivity
The Philippine’s cultural and religious norms shape WPS implementation. While women play vital roles in community life, patriarchal systems often limit their participation in formal peace processes. Localization efforts should:
- Support grassroots, women–led conflict prevention initiatives.
- Integrate Islamic and indigenous teachings and practices for greater acceptance.
- Involve men and boys as allies to challenge gender biases and promote inclusivity.
Accountability through localized mechanisms
Establishing localized monitoring and evaluation systems is essential to tracking progress, addressing gaps, and ensuring commitments translate into tangible outcomes for communities.
Lifelong commitment, not a passing trend
As we approach its 25th anniversary, some may view the WPS agenda as a mere trend, a checkbox in projects or curricula. However, it is far more than that—it is a steadfast call to drive enduring, transformative change. Across the globe, women courageously risk their lives to uplift voices that are silenced, striving to cultivate peace in regions scarred by conflict. In Mindanao, the sacrifices of women on the frontlines underscore the critical necessity for genuine participation, robust protection, and sustained support efforts.
Intergenerational collaboration
The Philippines population spans multiple generations, each with unique experiences of conflict and peacebuilding:
- Generation X recalls the Martial Law era.
- Millennials endured armed conflicts in the 2000s.
- Gen Z grew up amidst the 2017 Marawi siege and violent extremism.
- Gen Alpha inherits these legacies.
Facilitating intergenerational dialogues bridges gaps, combining elders’ wisdom with the innovative, tech–savvy approaches of younger generations to create a holistic peace framework.
Zones of Resilient Healing
From armed conflicts and health crises to climate emergencies and global political and economic upheavals—including Trump’s USAID funding freeze—communities worldwide have endured deep and lasting scars. In the face of these challenges, normalizing conversations on mental health and fostering resilient healing are essential.
For local peacebuilders, safe spaces for dialogue are not just necessary; they are transformative. These spaces allow them to process trauma, sustain their vital work, and nurture collective well–being—fortifying the very foundation of peacebuilding efforts. Resilient healing is not just about survival; it is about reclaiming strength, fostering solidarity, and ensuring that those on the frontlines of peace are not left behind.
Equity and Inclusion for All
Localization must uplift marginalized groups and amplify underrepresented voices. Genuine and lasting peace in diverse communities is only possible when everyone has a seat at the table and the power to shape their future.
The localization of the WPS agenda is crucial to ensuring that the principles of UNSCR 1325 are not just policies but lived realities, deeply embedded in the unique contexts of conflict–affected regions across Asia—particularly in Mindanao, Philippines. By embracing local cultures, languages, and traditions, and prioritizing community–driven, gender–sensitive solutions, we can create peacebuilding efforts that are both inclusive and sustainable. Women, in particular, are not just participants but powerful agents of change whose leadership is essential for meaningful and lasting transformation. As we move forward, the WPS agenda must go beyond rhetoric and take root in the daily lives of communities, empowering every member to co–create a future defined by peace, resilience, and justice.
