7:48 am today

Tonga police hosts conference to empower women officers

7:48 am today
Tonga Police Women's Advisory Network (TPWAN) annual conference. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 11 December 2024. Photo: Matangi Tonga.

Tonga Police Women's Advisory Network (TPWAN) annual conference. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 11 December 2024. Photo: Matangi Tonga

More than 50 policewomen participated in a three-day annual conference for the Tonga Police Women's Advisory Network (TPWAN) in Nuku'alofa this week.

Tonga Police said that the conference focused on encouraging solidarity and unity among women in policing.

The theme for this year's conference is 'Women in Unity, United in Policing'.

Deputy Commissioner and TPWAN chair SokopetI Faletau said being informed will open doors to a lifelong career in policing.

"The objectives of the conference were to empower, enable and equip the women to be knowledgeable," Faletau said.

The first two days of the conference featured workshops conducted by professionals from both WAN members and male colleagues for the participants.

The guest of honour and Deputy High Commissioner for Australia in Tonga Erin Gleeson said that Tonga Police have come along way from its first cohort of just eight women recruits.

TPWAN thanked the Tonga Police senior leadership team, Tonga Australia Policing Partnership, and the Tonga New Zealand Police Programme for their ongoing support to ensure that the conference was successful.

-Matangi Tonga Online