Elevating Asia-Pacific Women in International Security

11 Mar 2024 | APLN

11 March 2024

Today, APLN is excited to announce the launch of our open-access database for Asia-Pacific Women in International Security, which lists women from across the region working on foreign policy, defence, and peace and security-related issues.

Also in recent APLN activities: Anna Hood and Monique Cormier continue to explore the international legality of threats to use nuclear weapons, Meenakshi Gopinath reflects on women’s participation in disarmament diplomacy, and we welcome MinHee Chang Oh to our team as our new Operations Manager.

Recent activities from our network includes analysis on Indonesia’s political legacy, India’s nuclear power journey, Pakistan’s new Prime Minister, and more.

Asia-Pacific Women in International Security Database

APLN is excited to announce the launch of our Asia-Pacific Women in International Security Database.

We believe that we should continuously strive to enhance gender diversity and amplify women’s voices in the field of international security, a space where women remain underrepresented – particularly in the Asia-Pacific.

We invite journalists, policy practitioners, and think tankers to utilise this resource and call on more women from the Asia-Pacific for their expertise and perspectives.

We will continue adding to this database over time in efforts to create a comprehensive and inclusive list of international security experts in the region. This database is a work in progress. We welcome your feedback at apln@apln.network.

View the database

Nuclear Threats Under International Law
Part II: Applying the Law

In the second part of a series examining the international legality of threats to use nuclear weapons, Anna Hood and Monique Cormier consider prominent examples of nuclear threats and determine whether they were lawful under the international laws that govern when states can use force against one another. The authors then discuss the complexities and deficiencies of international laws in the nuclear context.

The first part of this report, Nuclear Threats Under International Law Part I: The Legal Framework, was published on our website last week.

Read the report

En-gendering Nuclear Disarmament

In this week’s APLN Korea Times column, Meenakshi Gopinath argues the need for gender mainstreaming in the disarmament agenda. While women have become more regular fixtures in the nuclear security space in recent years, there is nevertheless a need to engage in constant “reframing” of the movement: stopping to evaluate progress, reset priorities, and consider whether discussions are truly inclusive of all those who are affected by nuclear weapons.

Read the Korea Times column

APLN is delighted to welcome MinHee Chang Oh as our new Operations Manager. MinHee holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Spanish Language and Literature from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. She previously worked for the Embassy of Nicaragua to the Republic of Korea. Born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, she brings a diverse background to her professional pursuits. Her areas of interest include foreign policy and international relations.

APLN has over 150 members from 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Each week we feature their latest contributions
to global and regional security debates.

See all member activities

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Elina Noor Appointed to UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters

Elina Noor, Senior Fellow in the Asia Program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, was recently appointed to the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. She serves on the board of trustees for the UN Institute for Disarmament Research and on the advisory board for the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs.

Entangled: Southeast Asia and the Geopolitics of Undersea Cables

Elina Noor, Senior Fellow in the Asia Program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, publishes a paper on Indo-Pacific Outlook. She argues that the competition between the US and China is leading to the fragmentation of cable networks. As a result, Southeast Asian countries are increasingly compelled to decide between infrastructure provided by China and that provided by the US and its partners.

Cambodia’s New Leader May Sound Like a Reformer in Australia Next Week, but Little Has Changed Back Home

Gareth Evans, former Foreign Minister of Australia, co-write a commentary with Gordon Conochie for The Conversation. They argue that Australia should use its leverage not just to promote the economic development of Cambodia but also to support Cambodians who are striving for democracy and freedom of expression.

Indonesia’s eras: Reflections on Jokowi’s legacy and Prabowo’s presidency

Natalie Sambhi, Founder and Executive Director of Verve Research, writes a commentary for Brookings on the political legacy of the Indonesian President Joko Widodo. She also explores the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as the next President Prabowo takes office.

Looming Nuclear Turmoil

Kim Won-soo, former Under Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations, writes for The Korea Times and warns that the risk of a nuclear domino effect could materialize in Northeast Asia, ultimately jeopardizing the fate of the NPT.

India’s Nuclear Power Journey: Why has it Grown in Fits and Starts?

Manpreet Sethi, APLN Senior Research Adviser, examines why India’s nuclear power journey, despite its early start, has not been a smooth one. She highlights the importance of domestic outreach to address skepticism and stresses the sector’s potential significance amid climate change concerns and a growing economy.

[Interview] Japan Must Cease Fukushima Dumping and Establish Independent Oversight Body, Says Japanese Nuclear Power Expert

Tatsujiro Suzuki, Vice Director of the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition at Nagasaki University (RECNA), was interviewed by The Hankyoreh. He discussed the release of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and explored what actions the Japanese government can take to regain the public’s trust.

Why Shehbaz Sharif as PM does not signal a new beginning in India-Pakistan ties

C. Raja Mohan, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, writes for The Indian Express and argues that improving bilateral ties with India is a low priority for Pakistan as it grapples with multiple challenges at home and in its western borderlands.

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