the country, the Commission admits that it has yet to adapt an agency plan specific to women, peace, and security. Admitting this gap, and recognizing the expertise that we can tap through partner organizations/institutions, government agencies, CHR regional offices, and more importantly through civil society organizations working with women and girls in areas of armed conflict, we are now holding this forum. Specifically our objectives are: ● ● To Provide a forum to discuss women, peace, and security updates and currents issues; Explore further the role of CHR as Gender Ombud in WPS by gathering insights from WPS experts, CSOs and CHR-regional offices working in areas affected by armed conflict Of course it will not be the last, it is more of a beginning. I am hopeful that the Central oversight offices of the Commission present in this forum will take home the inputs, the insights, and the suggestions, as they draft their respective plans, activities, and programs. For our partner government agencies here present, as we all work in issues relating to WPS, may today’s forum inspire us to craft our PAPs in response to the issues here presented. For our partner CSOs, working on the ground, and working with women and girls, we are grateful to your contribution, and we do hope that as you share your experiences and the challenges that you face, we will be able to learn from your experience and strive to meet your expectations from your Gender Ombud. I need not expound more on WPS, I know that we have an expert this morning who will take you all to the journey of what WPS is and what it means for us as Gender Ombud, as Government workers and CSOs working in areas of armed conflict. Current issues of WPS in the country Despite, however, of the traction gained by UN Resolution to 1325 and the subsequent resolutions, and despite the adoption of several NAPWPS in the country, challenges and critiques on the ground implementation remain. UN Women for instance laments that ‘fifteen years after the adoption of resolution 1325, more than half of peace agreements continue to make no mention of women, UN military peacekeepers remain 97 per cent male, and data gathered by OECD-DAC shows that only 2 per cent of aid to peace and security in 2014 targeted gender equality as a principal objective.’ They added that ‘contribution of women and girls to peacebuilding continues to go undervalued and under-resource.’ Domestically, challenges remain in making mechanisms work, in achieving concretely the goals of WPS in the lives of women and girls on the ground, and in actually seeing the impact of the NAPWPS in current armed conflicts affecting the country. Since the adoption of the first NAP-WPS, the Zamboanga Siege and the Marawi Crisis happened. Both resulted to massive displacement and continuing humanitarian crisis. Protracted internal conflicts continue not only in Mindanao, but also in Luzon and in Visayas. With these, the goals of WPS in calling for women’s engagement and participation in conflict resolution remains ever relevant and even more challenging. The Commission, as Gender Ombud and as a National Human Rights Institution has a distinct role to play in advancing and promotion WPS. Page 32​ of 62