MANILA – First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos extended a warm welcome to the delegates of the three-day International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS) in Manila.
Addressing the packed Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City during Monday’s opening ceremony, the First Lady expressed delight in hosting the first international conference of its kind in Southeast Asia.
“Since this summit is about women, my husband (President) Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked me to personally convey our welcome and to let you know that the Philippines is honored to host a conference of this significance and stature,” she said, highlighting the nation’s commitment to advancing the WPS agenda.
In her speech, the First Lady invited participants to engage actively in the discussions while sharing their unique experiences in implementing the WPS agenda in their respective countries.
“I hope to hear your different experiences on how your countries have been working to move this agenda forward,” she said, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and shared learning among nations.
She then encouraged delegates to take some time to enjoy the beauty of Manila and experience the warmth of Filipino hospitality.
“While I am sure you have a lot of hard work ahead, I urge you to take some time to enjoy our beautiful city and our people’s warm hospitality,” she said.
She concluded her remarks with a call to celebrate the contributions of women in peace and security efforts, urging the audience to acknowledge both women’s and men’s roles in this vital agenda.
The three-day ICWPS will serve as a platform to address the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, the first and legal document adopted in October 2000 to recognize the role and needs of women in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding.
The conference features two high-level panels that assess the implementation of the WPS agenda and four thematic discussions on the policy and practical aspects of the WPS agenda’s implementation. (PNA)