Timor-Leste National Police Launch New Gender Strategy to Promote Women’s Participation and Enhance Gender-Responsive Policing Services, and to Celebrate National Women’s Day

[Press release]

Photo: UN Women Timor-Leste

Dili, Timor-Leste - The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), with support from UN Women, today launched its second Gender Strategy (2024-2028), aimed at increasing women’s participation and leadership to promote a more equal, diverse and inclusive institution, and strengthening gender-responsive and people-centered policing services to local communities.

The new Gender Strategy seeks to address barriers to the promotion and recruitment of female police officers and advance women’s representation within the security force. It promotes targeted measures to strengthen sexual harassment prevention and reporting mechanism within the institution, and enhance institutional capacity to provide gender-responsive community policing services to meet women’s and men’s distinct security needs.

About 600 police officers, including Municipal Commanders, all heads of departments and sections at headquarters and in the municipalities, attended the launch ceremony in Dili.

“This Gender Strategy will guide our efforts to challenge gender discrimination, promote equitable norms, and build a police force that reflects the diversity and resilience of our country,” said Commissioner Henrique da Costa M. Si, Commander General, National Police of Timor-Leste.   “Acknowledging the importance of increasing women’s representation in the PNTL and promoting gender equality and inclusiveness in our interactions with the community, we reinforce the foundations of trust and integrity upon which our mission stands.”

“UN Women is dedicated to supporting the National Police of Timor-Leste in their journey toward becoming a more gender-equal institution. Evidence clearly shows that having more women on the front lines enhances civilian trust. This document outlines a strategic framework for implementing gender-responsive policing, a crucial step toward strengthening more effective community policing models”, said Nishtha Satyam, UN Women Head of Office in Timor-Leste.

The Gender Strategy aligns with the PNTL’s Decree Laws and broader Strategy Plan (2023-2030), as well as the country’s second National Action Plan 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2024-2028) on promoting women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts to build sustainable peace in the country.

The PNTL made progresses in promoting gender equality through implementation of the first Gender Strategy (2018-2022). However, women were still underrepresented in higher ranks. Women made up only 15 per cent of the police force in 2022, and they made up only 10 per cent of the highest-ranking officers. In addition, women were underrepresented in operational and specialized roles.

The PNTL developed the new strategy with technical support from UN Women to make gender equality a priority.  The project is supported by the Government of the United Kingdom, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Korea.

See also: Gender Strategy 2024-2028: National Police of Timor-Leste