Ep. 158: Leading with Purpose: Women Shaping Peace Through Politics | Dr. Socorro Reyes

In this episode of She Talks Peace, gender and governance expert Dr. Socorro Reyes reflects on how women’s participation in politics has shaped peacebuilding efforts in the Philippines and beyond. Drawing from her journey as an educator, advocate, and grassroots organizer, Dr. Reyes emphasizes that true progress goes beyond representation—it must translate into policies that improve women’s rights, livelihoods, and community well-being. The conversation also explores the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and the ongoing challenge of localizing gender-inclusive peace efforts, particularly in conflict-affected communities. This episode calls on current and future leaders to move from promises to action, and to root peace in inclusive, community-driven change. This episode was recorded in August 2025 and is being released at a later date. Some dates, topics, events, or situations discussed may have already occurred or changed prior to the airing of this episode. Listeners and viewers are advised to keep this context in mind. She Talks Peace is a production of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, and this episode was produced for PCID by PumaPodcast. 🎧 Tune in to She Talks Peace for real stories of peacebuilders, changemakers, and everyday heroes across Asia and beyond. Timestamps: 0:00 - Leading with Purpose: Women Shaping Peace Through Politics 0:05 - Podcast Introduction 01:10 - Host Welcome 02:14 - Context of the Philippines’ History of Gender Equality 03:40 - The WPS Agenda 05:00 - Guest: Dr. Socorro Reyes 09:15 - Women Leadership Beyond Numbers 011:57 - Grading Past Leaders 13:36 - Current Political Landscape 17:40 - Addressing Fundamentalism 21:25 - Women Combatants 23:05 - Localization vs. Bureaucracy 31:15 - The Generational Shift 38:50 - Effective Messaging 40:14 - Call to Action Disclaimer: This podcast was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of PCID and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.