Success in maritime security-related operations is harder to achieve if women’s contributions are directly or indirectly marginalized and the realities of gender dynamics are not taken into consideration. This session will analyze the challenges and successes in increasing women’s substantive participation in maritime operations, including expectations of what women will/can “do” when deployed at sea. What is the degree/level of women's participation and leadership in the navy and coast guard? What are the challenges women face in the security sector? What are the consequences of current national and agency-specific policy interventions? What do women in uniform want in terms of public policy? This session will address these questions and more to highlight policy recommendations to advance the WPS agenda in the maritime security sector in the Philippines.

Speaker 1: Lt. Cdr. Lana Yap, Assistant Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Human Resource Management, Philippine Coast Guard
Speaker 2: CPT Marissa Arlene Martinex (GSC), Director Center for Naval Leadership and Excellence, Philippine Navy
Speaker 3: CDR Teri Share, Royal Canadian Navy

Speaker 4: Gloria Jumamil-Mercado, Undersecretary for Human Resources and Organizational Development, Department of Education.
Moderator: Ariel Stenek, Adjunct Fellow, Pacific Forum