MANILA: Marginal representation of women in the government offices and peace building processes cannot be counted as leadership, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) said Tuesday. On the second day of the International Conference on Women, Peace and Security (ICWPS) 2024 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, PCW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla noted that attainment of 50 percent representation in decision-making is possible and easy for men but not so for women. The United Nations Women data collected in 2023 showed that women made up only 9.6 percent of negotiators, 13.7 percent of mediators and 26.6 percent of signatories to peace agreements. The proportion of women signatories was only 1.5 percent, leaving out Colombia peace agreements. "And none of the peace agreements included signatories from women's groups. Marginal representation is not leadership," Valdeavilla said during the panel discussion entitled 'Investing in Impact: Financing Strategies for WPS Initiatives'. She added that gender parity in leadership must be achieved by adopting temporary quotas as provided in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, CEDAW is described as an international bill of rights for women. Capacity development for peace building and provision of resources available to women peace builders must be done as well, she said. As for protection of women against sexual violence, Valdeavilla said protection measures for women, youth, children, and people with different sexual orientations in armed conflict must be revisited and victims must be provided support. "There was a 50 percent increase in the incidence of conflict related sexual violence last year. Pursuant to UNSCR (United Nations Security Council Resolutions) 1820, let us encourage the heads of states where these sexual atrocities happened to prosecute offenders and send a signal that heads of states are prepared to do the same," sh e said. Source: Philippines News Agency