Marking another milestone in nationwide efforts to advance gender-responsive development, the Sorsogon State University (SorSU) – Office of the Gender and Development (GAD), headed by Prof. Riche P. Duran (Director, SorSU-GAD), alongside SorSU-GAD coordinators, actively represented the university at the recently concluded two-day Women’s and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP) Annual International Conference 2025, held on November 13–14, at the University of the Philippines (Cebu) Cebu, Cebu City.
Themed “Reimagining Gender: Beyond the Discourse of Development and Localization,” this year’s WSAP international conference, in partnership with UP Cebu, focused on advancing gender analysis, promoting inclusive policy frameworks, and exploring decolonial approaches to Gender and Development (GAD).
The two-day event featured keynote addresses, plenary sessions, interdisciplinary dialogues, and workshops on feminist development; human trafficking; Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), decolonial approaches in gender education, and transformative strategies for gender development.
Among the highlights included “The Philippine CSO Beijing+30 Report: A Blueprint for Urgent Action”—a comprehensive 16 expert-authored chapters on issues ranging from poverty and women, education, health, violence against women, labor, and armed conflict to SOGIESC, Indigenous and Muslim women, human rights, media, environment, and institutional mechanisms—emphasizing both progress since Beijing+25 and the urgent need for stronger, intersectional, and inclusive policy action.
A concurrent intergenerational conversation was organized afterward that explored how cross-age collaboration can strengthen gender justice efforts. Participants likewise took part in a learning session on conflict sensitivity and peace promotion, which equipped them with core concepts in conflict sensitivity and gender-responsive peacebuilding, stressing the importance of addressing structural violence and promoting gender-transformative strategies for inclusive development.
The SorSU delegation also included GAD coordinators: Ms. Glady Joy M. Mella (Sorsogon City Campus), Ms. Krishia B. Lachica (Bulan Campus), Mr. Albert Acuna (Castilla Campus), Mr. Abel Arevalo Jr. (Magallanes Campus), and Mr. Angelo D. Domanico (Graduate School).
SorSU’s active involvement underscores the university’s enduring commitment to effectively integrating gender and development across programs, enhancing institutional GAD initiatives, as well as cultivating safe, inclusive, and empowering campus environments. (SorSU-GAD & SorSU PIO)
Photo credit: SorSU GAD office
