The Philippines has become the first Asian country to create a National Plan of Action (NAP) for the protection of women’s rights during armed conflict as called for by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 on women, peace and security. Signed by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Executive Order 865 creates a NAP which calls for the protection of women’s rights during armed conflict, for the prevention of human rights abuses, and for ensuring women’s meaningful participation in all stages of conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The plan will have a budget of P5 million, and will also work to mainstream a gender perspective in national efforts on conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacekeeping, and post-conflict reconstruction. Presidential Adviser Annabelle Abaya will propose the establishment of an advisory group for the NAP that will be comprised of civil society organizations and will monitor and evaluate the reports of the action plan steering committee.
Compiled from: "Philippines adopts resolutions on protection of women," United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW), May 2010; Del Callar, Michaela P., "RP adopts UNSC resolutions on protection of women," The Daily Tribune, 26 March 2010.