Socorro L. Reyes
Dr. Socorro L. Reyes is an author, researcher, and women’s rights activist. She has been the Senior Regional Governance Adviser of the Center for Legislative Development since 2011 and is currently working on developing a gender-sensitive legislative advocacy strategy for the Basic Law for Bangsa Moro in the Philippines. She is also the Co-convener of the Women’s Peace Collective. She worked as the Director for Gender and Governance in the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) from 1999 to 2001 where she was in charge of the design, formulation, and mobilization of programs, projects, and resources for women’s representation. Following this, she became the Senior Gender Adviser to the Government of Pakistan in the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) from 2001 to 2004, and the Chief of Asia-Pacific and Arab States in UN WOMEN, New York (previously the United Nations Development Fund for Women or UNIFEM), from 2005 to 2011. After her position as chief, she continued to serve as the Officer in Charge for UN Women, Dhaka, Bangladesh.[1]
Her field of study largely focuses on gender and its relationships with various aspects of government and the state. Some of her research interests are gender and the electoral system; gender and federalism; misogyny in authoritarian regimes; gender and governance reform in transition governments; women’s political participation; and women in the peace process.[2] In particular, her publications include Strengthening the Linkage Between Selected Women’s Groups and Women in Government,[3] Advancing the Women’s Agenda in Congress,[4] and Thoughts on Women’s Political Agenda, all were published in 1991.[5] In connection with her position being the Senior Regional Governance Adviser, Dr. Reyes is conducting comprehensive research on governance reforms in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and how these affect women’s participation and rights.[2]
Dr. Reyes was the Chairperson of the Philippine Social Science Council in 1991, concurrent to being an Ex-Officio member of its Social Issues Committee.[6] Before this, she was a member of the council’s Institutional Development Committee and Social Issues Committee in 1986.[7] She studied at the University of the Philippines.[1]
[1] Dr Socorro L. Reyes. (n.d.). The Gender, Justice and Security Hub.
[2] Socorro Reyes. (n.d.). Home [LinkedIn page]. LinkedIn.
[4] Reyes, S. I. (1991). Advancing the Women’s Agenda in Congress: An Action Plan.
[5] Reyes, S. L. (1991). Thoughts on Women’s Political Agenda.
[6] 1991 Philippine Social Science Council: Annual Report. (1991). Philippine Social Science Council.
[7] Social Science Information 13(4). (1987). Philippine Social Science Council.
