Webinar: Advancing Gender-responsive Community-oriented Policing in South and South-East Asia

Date: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Time: 14:00–15:30 (Bangkok, UTC+7)
Where: Online via Teams | ACCESS WEBINAR RECORDING 
Language: English (with Thai / ภาษาไทย  interpretation)

UN Women promotes a shift to more gender-responsive, people-centred models of security through the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Women’s participation and leadership remain particularly limited in the security sector, yet increasing women’s representation in policing has been shown to strengthen community trust and the legitimacy of state institutions.

Against this backdrop, UN Women in collaboration with the Standing Police Capacity of the UN Police Division in the Department of Peace Operations, conducted a regional assessment of Gender-responsive Community-oriented Policing in Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. The assessment was conducted with the generous support of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

The assessment report, released in September 2025, concludes that this form of policing presents a significant opportunity for advancing security sector reform in South and Southeast Asia, particularly given the underrepresentation of women in policing.

Read Regional Assessment report.

This webinar formally launched the report, shared its key findings, promising practices and recommendations with stakeholders in South and Southeast Asia, and provided a space for dialogue on women’s participation and leadership in law enforcement as a cornerstone of peaceful societies.

Opening remarks:

• Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific,
• Bo Kou, Chief, Standing Police Capacity, UN Police Division, Department of Peace Operations
• Myeongho Jeong, Deputy Director, International Cooperation Division, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Republic of Korea

Other speakers:

• Shubhra Tiwari Hira, Police Reform Adviser, Standing Police Capacity
• Police Brigadier General Portia B. Manalad, Director, Philippine National Police Health Service
• Pol. Col. Manachanok Jumroonrojana, Deputy Commander, High-Tech Crime Division, Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, Royal Thai Police
• Asuka Murata, International Consultant, Governance, Peace and Security, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

Moderator:

• Norul Mohamed Rashid, UN Women Regional Policy Advisor on Governance and Peace and Security for Asia and the Pacific

Thank you to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.