There are two interesting but not surprising facts about women lawyers and their participation in peace negotiations. One is that the feminization of the legal profession by increasing the number of women lawyers and closing the gender gap in the field has yet to be attained. A 2010 study conducted by Ethan Michelson, found that no country has reached the threshold of increasing the number of women lawyers to 30 percent. Second is that the involvement of women in peace negotiations is notably low. A 2008 study cited by UN Women observed that out of 33 peace negotiations documented, only four percent (or 11 out of 280) were led by women. The study also noted that, on the average, women’s participation in government negotiating panels was only at seven percent, but higher than the number of women in delegations of non-state armed groups.
Both these realities are being challenged in the Philippines.”