via EMBASSY EXPRESS — From 2 to 3 March 2026, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines participated in the “2nd Southeast Asian Women’s Summit and 8th National Women’s Summit: ASEAN Leadership and Regional Cooperation: Where are the Women?” held at Miriam College in Quezon City.

On the second day of the Summit, the Embassy, along with fellow representatives from other international partners, participated in a panel discussion entitled “ASEAN Dialogue Forum: Reimagining Regional Cooperation: Feminist/Gender Equality Foreign Policy and ASEAN.”

Japan highlighted its long-standing commitment to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as its initiatives on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Philippines. In particular, Japan underscored the ongoing Women’s Protection and Empowerment Program in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The program aims to address the health needs of women and strengthen the response to gender-based violence.

The summit brought together numerous representatives from the Philippine government, academic institutions, civil society organizations, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and other foreign universities. Discussions covered a wide range of themes, including the WPS agenda in the Philippines as this year’s ASEAN chair, the history surrounding global WPS, and youth-led initiatives advancing gender equality. These exchanges further affirm the importance of strengthening women’s meaningful participation in conflict prevention and resolution, reconstruction processes, and broader social and development efforts.