Cambodia has made notable progress in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, demonstrating its commitment to gender inclusion in peacebuilding and diplomacy. Since 2006, the country has deployed over 10,000 UN peacekeepers, including 946 women. By June 2025, women have accounted for more than 20% of Cambodia’s peacekeeping forces since October 2024—one of the few countries worldwide to meet UN gender representation targets.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) acknowledges women’s essential contributions to political stability, development, and the protection of citizens abroad. Cambodian women now represent 16% of the diplomatic workforce, slightly above the global average of 15%. However, greater efforts are needed to meet the ECOSOC recommendation of at least 30% female representation in leadership roles.
Research within ASEAN has shown that women in law enforcement play a crucial role in conflict resolution and strengthening trust between communities and police. Despite this, women’s representation in ASEAN police forces remains low—Cambodia’s stands at 11% as of 2024. The presence of women in senior ranks is even more limited. Although Cambodia lacks a formal recruitment target, there is a recommendation to ensure at least 20% of new police recruits are women.
UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, has supported the WPS agenda through workshops, dialogues, and advocacy efforts. However, women still face underrepresentation in peacebuilding and security sectors. To bridge this gap, UN Women and MoWA—with support from Australia, Canada, the UK, and the Republic of Korea—are co-hosting a High-Level Dialogue on Women, Peace, and Security. The event aims to spotlight women’s leadership in peacekeeping, diplomacy, and law enforcement, while fostering inclusive, gender-sensitive policy discussions and inspiring broader participation in peace and security processes.
