For All Women and Girls: Rene Gandeza Jr.’s call for diversity in peacebuilding in the Philippines

#ForAllWomenAndGirls is a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA). Rene Gandeza Jr., is a human rights and gender equality advocate as part of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity who has been championing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and other (LGBTIQ+) communities through his work in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Gandeza is advancing an inclusive vision of peace that ensures no one is left behind.

For Gandeza, the call to action is clear: “If we are serious about achieving gender equality, we must recognize all women in their diverse and intersecting identities. You can't talk about peace and security if queer women and gender minorities are excluded.”

Centring LGBTIQ+ voices in peace and security

Gandeza’s advocacy is rooted in his own experience living with what he describes as the “benevolent tolerance” of queer identities in the Philippines, where acceptance is often conditional. “There’s this unspoken rule that you’re okay until someone finds you offensive. And that shapes how queer people move through society,” he explains.

Working within the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, Gandeza has championed the inclusion of diverse identities. Early in the process, he was part of a critical conversation: Should the policy evolve from a "Women, Peace and Security" framework to a more inclusive "Gender, Peace and Security" approach? While the terminology remains debated, Gandeza and his colleagues achieved a milestone, ensuring that the plan explicitly refers to “women in all their diverse and intersecting identities.”

“This language matters. It acknowledges trans women, non-binary people and other gender-diverse individuals who have traditionally been excluded from peace and security discussions. Inclusion should not be conditional,” he says.

Gandeza’s contributions show the vision of the BPfA, which calls for recognizing the diversity of women’s experiences and ensuring that gender equality efforts are truly inclusive.

Strengthening local leadership for inclusive governance

While national policies on LGBTQIA+ inclusion remain limited, Gandeza sees hope in local governments taking proactive steps. Quezon City has implemented ordinances that protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, from recognizing same-sex partnerships in medical decision-making to safeguarding trans women’s access to gender-affirming spaces.

“Quezon City is a great example of how local leadership can create inclusive spaces,” Gandeza says. “But we need this to be the norm, not the exception.”

Gandeza works with local governments and grass-roots organizations to build awareness and advocate for policies that protect all gender identities. “We need leaders at every level who understand intersectionality,” he explains. “Our communities are diverse, and our policies need to reflect that.”

Paving the way for inclusive and intersectional leadership

As the world reflects on three decades since the adoption of the BPfA, Gandeza remains steadfast in his commitment to inclusive peacebuilding.

He continues to call on policymakers, humanitarian organizations and feminist movements to prioritize intersectionality. “True gender equality demands that we recognize the unique experiences of queer women and gender-diverse people,” he says. “We can’t achieve peace and security if parts of our communities are left behind.”

With his work, Gandeza is helping to redefine what equality means in the Philippines, and ensure that the vision of the BPfA includes all women and girls, in every identity and expression.

“We’re not asking for special rights. We’re asking for the same rights. To be seen. To be heard. To live with dignity,” Gandeza concludes.