28 MAY 2028, VIENNA -  The Philippines showcased its experience on women’s participation in policing and cybercrime at a side event on Challenges, Opportunities and Experiences for Women in Policing and in the Digital Age - Global Perspectives on 23 May 2025, on the margins of the 34th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). 

“I believe that police community relations is a strength of women and is a powerful tool that helped me fulfill my work as a police officer,” said PBGEN Portia Manalad of the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP). She also shared her personal journey as a trailblazer and how she overcame challenges in a traditionally male-dominated organization. 

Deputy Regional Prosecutor Barbara Mae Flores of the National Coordinator Center against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) shared her experiences as a woman leader in combatting online child sexual abuse and exploitation. “I viewed my role as an opportunity to better my skills. I believe in empathetic justice to our abused children, especially the young girls…I was able to establish rapport, confidence and trust with the children victims.”  

In his opening remarks, Deputy Permanent Representative Zoilo Velasco of the Philippine Permanent Mission in Vienna said, “The surge of cybercrime and online exploitation bring new challenges that require dynamic responses. Women’s participation in law enforcement is indispensable. Their perspectives and leadership enrich decision-making processes and bring about a deeper understanding of the gendered dimensions of crime.”

Other panelists were Ms. Lisa Dardis of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Gender Team and Inspector Esther Mathew of the Digital Forensic Department Makurdi Directorate, Nigeria. The side event was co-organized by the Philippines with SecurityWomen, a global advocacy organization that promotes women, peace, and security. END.