Women in customs leadership: why does it matter?

Abstract

While positive efforts to advance women have been made, women remain significantly underrepresented in customs leadership. This paper explores the challenges facing women in Customs in the Asia-Pacific region by conducting a survey with women from the authors’ administrations. Based on this research, we offer concrete recommendations to promote women in customs leadership. The findings identify a range of barriers, with some shared and some particular to individual agencies and/or countries. The article concludes that ensuring the safety of women should be the first priority, followed by the development of policies and instruments to promote women, and that leadership and professional development programs should be conducted for all women in Customs around the world.