The Vital Contribution of Women in Law Enforcement in the ASEAN

UN WOMEN, UNODC & INTERPOL | Philippines, Siquijor and Thailand, Bangkok - 2019 to 2024

Work: Photography coverage

In July 2019, Maria Police Station, located on the island province of Siquijor, was designated as the first all-women police station of the Philippine National Police. Siquijor is a relatively peaceful island in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. It is a popular tourist destination. The all-women pilot programme was launched to promote women’s empowerment, and as an opportunity for women to enhance their tactical and operational skills. In this way, the initiative differs from “women’s police stations” or “women’s desks” where the focus is on deploying female officers to improve responses for women and children, and to sexual and gender-based crimes.

Also, UN Women actively promotes the increased participation of women in law enforcement, recognizing that gender parity in police forces leads to more effective and responsive policing.