Women in Cambodia

7/25/2019 Women in Cambodia

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The Situation of Women in Cambodia

July 2004

sm5>n?Ex`rCer!n ni"#arJrsiTi?mnus$ l%#ad&

Cambodian League for the Promotionand Defense of Human Rights


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The Situation of Women in Cambodia

July 2004

For more information please contact:

'r( )e# *alabru+resident,%C-'.! /Cambodian ,ea"ue for the +romotion and 'efense of .uman i"hts1

+! ox 433 Central +ost !ffie6708 Street 39 +hnom +enh CambodiaTel: /;551 28 8


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Table of Contents

pag

e

Glossary of Terms 5

Chapter I: Introduction 7.istorial ba#droB 9%mBlementation of the Conention on the Elimination of all forms of'isrimination -"ainst Women

3

Soure material and data analysis 77

Chapter II: Equality before the a! "#

SBeifi le"al issues fain" Aomen 78eommendations 74

Chapter III: $arria%e and the Family "&ono"amy 74-rran"ed marria"es 75'omesti iolene and raBe Aithin the marria"e 75eommendations 79

Chapter I' (: 'iolence a%ainst !omen and children ")aBe and indeent assault 73*ender iolene 24-id atta#s 24ored labour of Aomen and hildren 2The maFority ori"inate

from the e#on" 'elta e"ion and are able to sliB throu"h the Borous border Aith Cambodia often

assisted by Brofessional traffi#ers and the omBliity of orruBt Bolie and border offiials("?

*enerally sBea#in" Dietnamese Aomen enter the Cambodian sex trade for different reasons to

Cambodian Aomen( While it is inaurate to say that Dietnamese Aomen enter the trade by their own

free will a lar"e number feel honourbound to Bay off familial debts in their natie land( %n essene

they beome indentured labourers and are relutant to leae a brothel until the debt is reBaid( %t is of

Bartiular onern that no emorandum of &nderstandin" /o&1 has been si"ned Aith Dietnam to

date( Dietnamese Aomen are therefore not only imBerilled by the nature of their Aor# but an fae

arrest by Cambodian authorities for immi"ration iolations( or this reason resue and rehabilitation

Aor# Aith Dietnamese sex Aor#ers is een more diffiult and omBlex than rehabilitation and re

inte"ratie Bro"rammes for Cambodian Aomen("

!ehabilitation and reintegration programmes for trafficked and se'uall e'ploited women

%t is imBeratie to reo"nise that not eery Aoman Aor#in" in the sexindustry is oered to remain in

this trade( Some Aomen hoose to stay of their oAn olition( G*!s and other or"anisations

Bartiularly those ondutin" resue missions must be areful not to suBerimBose a false

onsiousness on Aomen they are see#in" to helB(

oWD- and G*!s suh as the CWCC and ,%C-'.! run rehabilitation and reinte"ration

Bro"rammes( ehabilitation Bro"rammes fous on Broidin" seurity Bsyhiatri and ounsellin"

assistane "eneral suBBort series and Broision of oational trainin" ourses /to both Aomen and

hildren1( einte"ration inoles findin" a suitable resettlement arran"ement for the itim( -ordin"

to the CWCC many itims are afraid to return to their ommunities for fear of further abuse and

ostraism( ehabilitation thus inoles Broidin" the itim Aith alternatie oBtions for emBloyment

and resettlement in Cambodia(

Health for se' workers

49 This statisti is Broided by the "oernment in #nitial, $econd and %hird &eport on the#mplementation of the #nternational Convention on the 'limination of all forms of (iscriminationAgainst )omen in Cambodia /oyal *oernment of Cambodia !tober 20081( .oAeer Steinfattsu""ests this number is loAer at around 48LQ 5easuring the -umber of %rafficked )omen andChildren in Cambodia2 A (irect /bservation Field $tudy 6Thomas ( Steinfatt &niersity of iami20081(4; &nli#e Thailand Dietnam has not yet si"ned a emorandum of &nderstandin" /o&1 Aith

Cambodia in re"ard to traffi#in" issues( %t is exBeted that this o& Aill be si"ned in 2004(43There hae been instanes in reent years Ahere Dietnamese Aomen hae been resued from brothelsin Cambodia and Blaed in rehabilitation entres only to esaBe one more to the brothels(

23


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Sex Aor#ers fae tAo main threats to their health and seurity( The first is inreasin" leels of iolene

BerBetrated by men a"ainst Aomen and hildren in the sex industry( The seond is the transmission of

sexual diseases Brimarily .%D=-%'S( %n 7333 the Brealene of .%D=-%'S amon"st diret sex

Aor#ers ommerial sex Aor#ers and freelane sex Aor#ers Aas estimated at 88(2L 73(;L and

7


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around the streets of Sai"on reeals that these hildren also fae habitual harassment and iolene from

established and indi"enous loal "an"s of youths en"a"ed in the same business(

The traffi#in" of dru"s and Aomen has been married into an unholy alliane in Cambodia today(

Traffi#ers are inreasin"ly usin" Aomen rossin" the border into Thailand as MmulesH to arry heroin

and yama( -side from the lear health ris#s that many forms of dru" traffi#in" arry it is the Aomen

rather than the dru" traffi#ers Aho fae stiff Benalties inludin" death if they are au"ht by the

authorities(

!ecommendations

C-!W and other iil soiety or"anisations must ontinue to lobby the inistry of

Justie to reform and formulate a omBrehensie neA traffi#in" laA(

All meansshould be used to imBlement and enfore urrent laAs that Brotet Aomen from

sexual exBloitation and traffi#in"( They must beseen to be workingin order to oerome

the ulture of imBunity and orruBtion(

aisin" the salaries of iil serants should be exBlored as a Botential means to ombat

orruBtion amon"st "oernment emBloyees(

urther trainin" and eduation of Bolie and border offiials Aho are Aor#in" in Broximity

to traffi#in" and sex trade entres(

urther researh /both in Cambodia and in Dietnam1 is reuired to find better Aays to helB

Dietnamese sex Aor#ers in Cambodia( rothel raids and=or reBatriation to Dietnam may not

be the best ansAer(

- emorandum of &nderstandin" needs to be onluded betAeen Cambodia and Dietnam

in order to Brotet Dietnamese sex Aor#ers from bein" reitimised as ille"al immi"rants(

Continued eduation on .%D=-%'S for sex Aor#ers and their BriniBal lient "rouBs suh

as army=Bolie offiers as Aell as other Aor#ers Aith hi"h mobility suh as fishermen(

e"ular testin" for sex Aor#ers and their BriniBal lient "rouBs(

%nreased fundin" and assistane for oWD- and G*!s imBlementin" effetie

rehabilitation and resettlement Bro"rammes for Aomen and hildren Aho are itims of

traffi#in" and sexual exBloitation(

ore fous should be Blaed on Broidin" youn" Aomen Aith s#ills that an Broide a

sustainable lielihood as a means of #eeBin" them aAay from the sex industry(

Wor# to disBel the "eneral sti"ma attahed to itims of the sex trade Ahih inhibits their

rehabilitation and resettlement in the ommunity(

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'1 Women in prison

Cambodia "ained international infamy Aith the ')Hs notorious Tuol Slen" Brison in +hnom +enh(

Sine this time immeasurable imBroements hae been made in CambodiaHs Benal system( This has

been lar"ely due to the monitorin" of human ri"hts and health onditions in Brisons throu"hout the

ountry(5


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unsanitary onditions and malnutrition en"ender illness and in Bartiular infetious diseases( ost

Aomen suffer from a"initis and .%D=-%'S is a "roAin" Broblem in Cambodian Brisons today( There

is no routine sreenin" Broess of detainees and the disease an Broliferate throu"h the ommunity by

ommon Bratises suh as tattooin" and raBe(

ood Broision is inadeuate in most Brisons( .uman ri"hts Aor#ers hae onluded that the

"oernment is simBly not honourin" its obli"ation to feed detainees( -s one &G monitor stated

O+eoBle sentened to imBrisonment should be not be Bunished Aith enfored staration( - "oernment

Ahih annot feed its Brisons has no ri"ht to #eeB them lo#ed uB(P


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na#ed by a "uard and anally raBed by the stem of a oonut( Some months later Touh Aas beaten

a"ain for alle"edly mentionin" this atta# to a ourt offiial( The folloAin" year Touh Aas raBed

a"ain by an inmate and fell Bre"nant( When ,%C-'.! examined Touh the foetus Aas belieed dead

but sill inside her( -lthou"h she had been sent to hosBital a feA Aee#s Breiously /at the reuest of a

le"al aid or"anisation1 she had been released after one day as staff laimed there Aere insuffiient

resoures to Aath her in hosBital( ,%C-'.! subseuently arran"ed for her to return to hosBital to

reeie treatment but Aithin a matter of days of ,%C-'.!s deBarture from )oh )on" Broine

Touh died( - Bostmortem test reealed she Aas .%D Bositie(


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!ecommendations

Continued areful monitorin" of human ri"hts and health in Brisons throu"hout Cambodia

to inrease transBareny in the Benal system(

Eduate "uards and offiials on the rules and re"ulations onernin" the detainment of

Brisoners( %mBosition of stiff santions if these re"ulations are ontraened(

Ensure that Aomen and minors are #eBt in seBarate omBounds(

%nrease the number of female "uards in Brisons(

,obby the "oernment to inest more resoures in the Broision of food health are and

eduation for Brisoners(

Continued researh and Brotetion for hildren Aho are "roAin" uB in Brison(

'I( 2ural Women

Article 1"7( $tate +arties shall take into account the particular problems faced by

rural women and the significant roles which rural women play in theeconomic survival of their families, including their work in the nonEmonetied sectors of the economy, and shall take appropriatemeasures to ensure the application of the provisions of the presentConvention to women in rural areas

2( $tates +arties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminatediscrimination against women in rural areas in order to ensure, on abasis of e!uality of men and women, that they participate and benefit

from rural development:

%n 2008 ;4L of Cambodians resided in rural areas( 30L of itiNens liin" under the Boerty line Aere

in rural areas and the maFority of these Aere Aomen(9?The situation for rural Cambodian Aomen is

omBlex and Brofoundly unsatisfatory( -side from "eneri disriminatory Braties that an be

mirrored in many Bredominantly rural Southeast -sian nations Cambodian Aomen fae more sui

generisBroblems relatin" to the history and soioBolitial ontext of Cambodia(

*he perpetuation of po#ert ccles and further obstacles facing de#elopment for rural women

%t is estimated that 50L of rural Aomen are illiterate and hae not omBleted Brimary shool

eduation(9This alarmin" fi"ure an be Bartly exBlained by the destrution of eduational failities

under the )hmer ou"e re"ime and the ensuin" disruBtion of iil Aar that extended into the 7330s( %t

an also be understood Aithin the ontext of traditional sexist attitudes to Aomen and a dearth of


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resoures to sBend on eduation in "eneral( ,a# of eduation "reatly inhibits AomenHs understandin"

of their ri"hts to euality and Brotetion under the laA( This an ma#e them ulnerable to reBeated

yles of domesti iolene and abuse( %t an also ma#e it ery hard for rural Aomen to brea# out of

the Boerty yle by findin" offfarm emBloyment in nonexBloitatie trades(

-nother serious Broblem that affets rural Cambodian Aomen is ill health and disability( The &nited

Gations 'eeloBment eBort 2008 reeals that only 78L of "oernment health Aor#ers lie in rural

areas and therefore many treatable maladies beome more serious throu"h la# of remedial attention(

This seerely imBairs rural AomenHs aBaity to Aor# and suBBort their families(

'esBite the best efforts of many mine learane "rouBs Cambodia remains one of the most densely

mined ountries in the Aorld and has one of the hi"hest BroBortions of handiaBBed men and Aomen(

'isabled Aomen are often sti"matised and disriminated a"ainst Aithin ommunities and find it hard

to marry( The situation for femaleheaded households is een more Berilous Ahen the sole breadAinner

is inaBaitated and other soures of inome "eneration must be found(

The Cambodian "oernment /in Bartiular oWD-1 as Aell as a number of donors and G*!s hae

instituted a series of Bro"rammes that see# to address female deeloBment in rural areas( The &G'+ in

Cambodia is esBeially Bositie about the +artnershiB for *ender Euity /+*E1 and Gational +oerty

edution Strate"y /G+S1( -t the be"innin" of 2008 the &G'+ stated O+*E in BartnershiB Aith the

inistry of WomenHs and DeteransH -ffairs and the World an# suessfully adoated the inlusion

of "ender euity issues in CambodiaHs Gational +oerty edution Strate"y and its related +ubli

ExBenditure eieA /+E1( CambodiaHs Gational +oerty edution Strate"y is onsidered to be one

of the best in the Aorld re"ardin" the mainstreamin" of "ender(P>B

&emale+headed households

The "reatest Bredominane of rural Boerty exists Aithin femaleheaded households /..1( .. are

esBeially ulnerable in re"ard to land oAnershiB( -ordin" to sureys onduted in 2000 the

aera"e rural landholdin" is 7 hetare but the aera"e landholdin" for .. is Fust oer 0(5L of that(>1

This is not suffiient to sustain a family of more than four members at subsistene leel( .. are

further endan"ered and intimidated by Bredatory land sBeulators Aho ma#e laims uBon their land(

90+artnershiB for *ender Euity /&nited Gations 'eeloBment +ro"ramme 20081 B(7(97,andoAnershiB Sales and Conentration in Cambodia: - +reliminary eieA of Seondary 'ata

and +rimary 'ata from our eent Sureys Wor#in" +aBer 7


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Women do not hae the resoures to defend these laims in ourt and may fall Brey to disriminatory

ommunity arbitration(

- si"nifiant BroBortion of .. belon" to Aar AidoAs( &nli#e nei"hbourin" Dietnam Ahere Aar

AidoAs are enerated and Broided Aith Bensions Cambodian AidoAs are offered no state suBBort(

The omBlexity of the iil unrest that Bla"ued Cambodia for deades has made issues of

omBensation too Bolitially sensitie to be addressed in the reent Bostonflit reonstrution years(

Women in rural reform and communit de#elopment

The urrent Broess of Bolitial deentralisation in Cambodia has Broided Aomen Aith a AindoA of

oBBortunity to BartiiBate in "rassroots deisionma#in" forums( *ender mainstreamin" in

deentralisation has been enoura"ed by oWD- and the SE%,- Bro"ramme( %n 733; Aomen

aounted for 40L of the reBresentation in ommunes in the Aestern Broines of Cambodia(>;

.oAeer these statistis do not tell us Ahether Aomen are atually able to use their aBBointments

effetiely or Ahether they are simBly titular Bositions( urther researh is needed into this uestion as

omBaratie findin"s in Dietnam hae reealed that Aomen in rural "oernment are often undermined

and maniBulated by their male ollea"ues(

Women in Agriculture

The diffiulties fain" Aomen in a"riulture hae been disussed in detail in setion D%%% /Women in

EmBloyment1( %t is Aorth reBeatin" that AomenHs si"nifiant ontributions to a"riultural Brodution

are often underestimated( Sine Aomen aount for


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urther researh is needed into the Bolitial and ommunity deeloBment role that Aomen

an Blay in rural "oernane and ommunity deeloBment forums(

Women should be enoura"ed and "ien onfidene to atiely BartiiBate in rural

deisionma#in" bodies(

iroredit and a"riultural extension shemes should be tar"eted more at Aomen(

emales should also be enoura"ed to train and at as failitators in these shemes(

There should be an inreased bud"et alloation to the inistry of -"riulture to reflet the

hi"h Berenta"e of BeoBle en"a"ed in a"riulture(

'II( Women and 4ealth

Article 1;7( $tate +arties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate

discrimination against women in the field of health care in order toensure, on a basis of e!uality of men and women, access tohealthcare services, including those related to family planning

2( $tate +arties shall ensure to women appropriate services inconnection with pregnancy, confinement and the postEnatal period,

granting free services where necessary, as well as ade!uate nutritionduring pregnancy and lactation

The health of all Cambodian itiNens is enshrined in -rtile 92 of the Constitution Ahih emBhasises

nondisriminatory health Braties and free medial onsultation for Boor itiNens( The "oernment of

Cambodia is Broud of its national healthare system Ahih has reeied onsiderable suBBort from

donor or"anisations and G*!s( There are some "rounds for this Bride as there has been "enuine

imBroement on #ey indiators suh as female life exBetany and infant and maternal mortality

rates(>


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on CE'-W estimates that 40L of rural Aomen faed lo"istial diffiulties in aessin" a rural health

faility(>*ural and urban Aomen ali#e hae ited further diffiulties in re"ard to the osts of their

Bresribed treatments and limited aess to female Bratitioners(

*enerally sBea#in" Bubli healthare Aor#ersH Brofessional s#ill leels are onsidered to be loA and

Bartiularly so in remote areas of Cambodia( The salaries for ualified Bubli health Aor#ers are

mea"re and neessitate either findin" Aor# in the Briate setor suBBlementin" inomes Aith a seond

Fob or har"in" additional fees for series Broided( -s lon" as state Aa"es remain so Bitiful and

there are no inenties for health Aor#ers to reloate to remoter Barts of the ountry it is unli#ely that

the uality of the Bubli health serie an imBroe(

"aternit care

There has been a onsiderable imBroement in maternal mortality rates from 300 deaths Ber 700000

lie births in 73;3 to 489 in 2000(>9Geertheless oer 200 000 Aomen suffer from Bre"nanyrelated

omBliations eah year(>> any of these Broblems stem from Boerty Ahih an lead to ommon

disorders suh as anaemia estimated to affet


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%n 2008 the fertility rate delined to 4 hildren Ber Aoman reBresentin" a derease of 7(4L oer a 70

year Beriod( This deline is lin#ed to better eduation and understandin" of birth ontrol Braties(

esearh indiates that 24L of Aomen noA use ontraeBties and birth sBain" tehniues as

oBBosed to less than 7L in 7335?B( .oAeer there is still a need to orally disseminate information on

birth ontrol in rural areas Ahere a hi"her BroBortion of illiteray and a stron"er Broliity to raise

lar"e families remains(

The Cambodian 'emo"raBhi and .ealth Surey of 2000 estimated that


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Article 117( $tates parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate

discrimination against women in the field of employment:planning

2( #n order to prevent discrimination against women on the grounds of

marriage or maternity and to ensure their effective right to work:

-rtile 8< of the Constitution and -rtiles 792 to 7;; Bertainin" to Cambodian labour laAs stiBulate

that Aomen hae euality in all sBheres of emBloyment( .oAeer een the "oernment admits that

these laAs are Aea#ly monitored(?;This a#noAled"ement is alarmin" sine today /20041Q Aomen are

an inte"ral Bart of the ountryHs labour fore( %n 2008 98(5L of Aomen BartiiBated in the national

labour fore( They onstituted 95L of the nona"riultural setor 82(2L of the iil serie 40L of

the Briate setor and ;9L of all fatory Aor#ers /Brimarily in the textile industry1?


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emBloyers are #een to maximise their Brofits and Aith a lar"e labour Bool at their disBosal an usually

find looBholes to terminate the emBloyment of Bre"nant Aomen( %n some situations Aomen are fored

to stay at home after their Bre"nany sine there are no rKhe failities and no one to mind their

hildren(?"

Women in the garment industr

Today the "arment industry is bi" business in Cambodia( %n 2007 it Aas resBonsible for Broduin"

30L of the ountryHs merhandise exBort inome and in 2008 Aas emBloyin" aBBroximately 20L of

Aomen a"ed 7;25(?*&nsurBrisin"ly most of these forei"noAned fatories hae been able to at Aith

imBunity in re"ard to their female emBloyees( The le"al minimum Aa"e for a "arment Aor#er is 45 a

month for a 4;hour Aee#( 'ue to the number of surBlus female Aor#ers on the labour mar#et

hoAeer emBloyers re"ularly flout the le"al reuirements for standard and oertime Aa"es( esearh

has lin#ed loA Aa"es for some "arment Aor#ers to the need for suBBlementary inome earned as sex

Aor#ers(

asi standards for health and safety in the Aor#Blae are also seldom monitored(?9.uman ri"hts

Aor#ers hae reBeatedly draAn attention to dan"erous Aor#in" onditions in a number of fatories

Ahere Aomen hae been Boisoned or suffered onditions detrimental to their health(?>,%C-'.! and

--,% hae further hi"hli"hted the nature of Ofored labourP in Cambodian "arment fatories(??

Women hae reBorted bein" fored to Bay Bunitie fines to their emBloyers if they refuse to Aor# oer

time or on Sundays and national holidays( %n one esBeially alarmin" ase it Aas reBorted that the

fatory door Aould remain lo#ed until the Aor#ers omBleted omBulsory oer time(?The health and

safety onerns of this Bratie are selfeident(

Currently textile Aor#ers are relutant to fi"ht for imBroed Bay and onditions in their Aor#Blae due

to the enfeebled status of their bar"ainin" Bosition isUis their emBloyers( The monthly Aa"e is

attratie omBared to other forms of emBloyment and draAs a onstant stream of Aillin" Aor#ers

from the ountryside Aho are then able to remit funds to suBBort their families( The *C is unAillin"

;4%t should be noted that omBanies that emBloy oer 700 staff are le"ally reuired to Broide rKhefailities for their Aor#ers(;5Cambodia2 $ewing 0uttons for the world /!xfam * 20081 B(8(;


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to enoura"e orBorate bar"ainin" in the form of atie trade unions for fear that fatory oAners Aill

ta#e their inestment out of the ountry( This ontraenes %,! Conention Go( 3; and Go( 754 Ahih

"uarantees the ri"hts for Aor#ers to bar"ain olletiely(

%n 2005 Cambodia intends to aede to the World Trade !r"anisation( %n aordane Aith neA uota

and tariff systems and the end of the ultifibre -"reement Ahih "uarantees Cambodian Broduers a

ertain Berenta"e of the -merian mar#et it is exBeted that many textile oBerations Aill hoose to

inest elseAhere( This Aill Bose a si"nifiant Broblem in the form of a sAollen Bool of semi and

uns#illed female Aor#ers Aho may be suseBtible to exBloitation in order to earn a liin"(

Women in Agriculture

%n rural Cambodia /Ahere ;5L of the total BoBulation resides1 more than


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monitored more losely( Seeral Aor#ers hae reently omBlained that ontratual a"reements hae

been dishonoured suh as reduin" salaries from 400 Ber month to 700( There is ery little these

Aomen an do one they hae arried in their host ountry sine it is "eneral Bratise for their

BassBorts to be onfisated(

esearh into this tyBe of emBloyment is nearly imBossible as it is a Ohidden industryP Ahere the

emBloyees are loseted in the emBloyersH homes( The Cambodian WomenHs 'eeloBment -"eny

/CW'-1 has autiously noted that some Aomen are ery haBBy Aith their neA Aor# enironments

and Bleased to be able to remit money ba# to their families in Cambodia(;.oAeer many Aomen

are unhaBBy and hae ery little reourse for omBlaint or Brotetion( %n one instane a Aoman Aho

had been en"a"ed to Aor# as a domesti serant in South )orea alled ,%C-'.! in +hnom +enh for

assistane( This ase demonstrates the isolation that domesti Aor#ers exBeriene in a forei"n ountry

Ahere they do not hae the finanial means or suBBort netAor#s to esaBe maltreatment(

C-- and ,%C-'.! are lobbyin" oS-,DI to train domesti Aor#ers in their labour ri"hts

/both in Cambodia and in their host ountry1 BredeBarture( ,%C-'.! is also in the Broess of

Broidin" Tshirts to the Aor#ers that detail their ri"hts and Broide ontat numbers for soures of

assistane in their neA ountries( &nfortunately this information has to be Broided under subterfu"e

sine the Briate omBanies inoled in this business are relutant for their Aor#ers to be o"nisant of

their ri"hts(

!ecommendations

urther effort and inestment is needed to establish indeBendent ommissions to monitor

and ensure all ri"hts for Aomen in emBloyment Ahih are "uaranteed by CE'-W and the

Cambodian Constitution(

*reater understandin" and attention needs to be direted into "ender mainstreamin" in

emBloyment(

urther oational ourses should be offered to Aomen so that they are not ulnerable and

reliant on Broidin" uns#illed labour to Bredatory Briate emBloyers(

-"riultural extension and miroredit shemes should be made more aessible to rural

Aomen(

32Community initiatives to prevent trafficking in women = an experience from Cambodia /Sexual.ealth Exhan"e CW'- 20081

44


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- suBBort netAor# needs to be reated for Cambodian Aomen Aor#in" as domesti helB

oerseas( ExBeriene an be "ained from lon"standin" exBerienes +hiliBBine on this

issue(

%Y( Women in Education

Article 1B$tates +arties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminatediscrimination against women in order to ensure them e!ual rightswith men in the field of education:

The Constitution of Cambodia has enshrined eual ri"hts for Aomen in all modes of eduation andareers in -rtiles 4;


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in some instanes annot be met( -ordin" to &G%CE Ahile initial enrolment rates for first time

students are reasonably euitable the aforementioned fators ensure a si"nifiantly hi"her droB out

rate for female students in Brimary eduation(*The Cambodian %ndeBendent Teahers -ssoiation

/C%T-1 estimated that only


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!ecommendations

-dditional subsidies should be Broided in a transBarent fashion to the "oernment +(-(+

Bro"ramme(1B1%n "eneral inreased fundin" is reuired in the eduation setor to ne"ate the

Bratie of leyin" informal fees on students( aisin" salary bands for teahers is also a

ital steB in imBroin" the uality and aessibility of eduation for students(

ore Broatie measures need to be introdued to enoura"e Aomen into seondary and

further eduation suh as affirmatie ation shemes aAardin" more national and

international sholarshiBs and Broidin" female dormitories for rural Aomen to study at

tertiary institutes(

Doational ourses tar"eted sBeifially at Aomen must be further enhaned throu"hout the

ountry(

1 Women in .olitics6 .ublic ife and International (ffairs

Article >$tate parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminatediscrimination against women in the political and public life of thecountry

Article ?$tates +arties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure towomen, on e!ual terms with men and without discrimination, theopportunity to represent their government at the international leveland to participate in the work of international organisations

emale reBresentation in Bolitis Bubli life and international affairs is the Bubli fae of "ender

reBresentation in any "ien ountry( %t an also "ie an indiation of the role that Aomen are ta#in" in

formin" laAs and Boliies that affet the lies of all itiNens and in Bartiular Aomen( The first female

ember of +arliament held offie from 735; R 7390 adame +&G* +en" Chen" /Si En" T!G*1

sered as inister for Soial -tion inister for .ealth and -tin" +resident of the Gational

-ssembly702( 'urin" this time she enoura"ed other Aomen suh as '%E+ 'ina to stand for offie(

707+(-(+ Aas a Bro"ramme instituted by the Cambodian *oernment in 2002( %t aims to irument theneed for informal user fees by subsidiNin" eduational faulties( .oAeer it has not si"nifiantlyimBated uBon the urrent Bratie of ille"al eduational leies(702adame +un" +en"Chen"Hs dau"hter 'r( )e# *alabru /('1 has ontinued the family traditionand is also a ery Bositie role model for Cambodian Aomen( She Aas one of ery feA Aomen AhoAere instrumental in informal ne"otiations leadin" to the +eae -ords in Cambodia( %n 7332 she

established ,%C-'.! and Aith her dau"hters Galy and Ea Aor#ed tirelessly to Brotet and BromoteAomenHs ri"hts in Cambodia( While 'r( *alabru remains Bresident of ,%C-'.! she noA fouses alot of her ener"y into imBroin" health series in Cambodia(

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#nter alia Si En" T!G* fou"ht relentlessly for AomenHs ri"hts in the field of maternity are "ender

mainstreamin" in emBloyment and eduation and Brotetion for hild and female sex Aor#ers( any

of the issues that she amBai"ned for are still hi"h on the a"enda today( While there hae been some

imBroements in "ender mainstreamin" in Cambodian Bolitial and Bubli affairs Aomen still remain

Aoefully underreBresented(

Suffrage and !epresentation in go#ernment

!stensibly Cambodia is a liberal demoray Ahere CE'-W and -rtile 84 of national Constitution

"uarantee uniersal suffra"e and the holdin" of Bubli offie( %n Bratie Aomen are Boorly

reBresented at all leels of "oernment( %n the &GT-CsBonsored multi Barty eletions in 7338 only

5L of the andidates Aere female( This situation has imBroed someAhat oer the last deade and in

the 733; Barliamentary eletions 77(5L members of Barliament Aere Aomen( olloAin" uBon the

733; eletions there Aas also a sli"ht imBroement in the reBresentation of Aomen at ministerial leel

Aith tAo /out of 241 female ministers of state reBresentin" the inistry of Culture and ine -rts and

the inistry of WomenHs and Deterans -ffairs(

ural "oernment in Cambodia reflets a similar "ender imbalaneQ no Aomen Aere aBBointed to head

Broinial or and muniiBal "oernments and only fie Aomen hold the semisenior Bositions of

deButy Broinial "oernor and muniiBality and distrit deButies(

%n 2000 Cambodia established a biameral system Aith the Senate ta#in" the role of upper house

The *C Aas able to aBBoint members to this


49/55

fatories that Aere suBBressed leadin" to inFury and death( Similarly a "atherin" or"anised by

C-!W to raise aAareness on neA domesti iolene Aas denied( This is indiatie of an alarmin"

trend in the suBBression of AomenHs ri"hts to freedom of sBeeh assembly and to orBorate

bar"ainin" in the Aor#Blae(

/00/ Commune Elections 1Sangkat2

%n the 2002 Commune ounil eletions the three main Bolitial Barties /&GCG%+EC C++ and Sam

ainsy +arty1 deided to byBass a 80L female uota system bein" made a le"al reuirement( This

indiates that the main Bolitial Barties are still relutant to Bromote female andidature Aithin their

Barties( %n the 2 years Breedin" the eletion Women Wa"in" +eae reorded that it suBBorted 5529

andidates offerin" them "uidane in Bubli sBea#in" sBeehAritin" ansAerin" otersH uestions

and ombatin" hallen"es from male Barty members unsymBatheti to AomenHs BartiiBation( 705!f the

952;9 andidates 7


50/55

Women in the 5udiciar

,i#e the le"islatie and exeutie branhes of "oernment Aomen are also underreBresented in the

Fudiiary( %n 2008 there Aere 74 Aomen Fud"es /72L1 of a total of 773 7 Aoman Broseutor /7(5L1 of

a total of


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I1 Conclusion

*he &uture empowerment of women in Cambodia

This reBort has indiated that there are many obstales on the road to omBlete emBoAerment for

Aomen in Cambodia( -t times the study has sou"ht to hi"hli"ht the desBiable suh as TouhHs story(

-t other times it has reealed the routine disBassion shoAn by any number of ators in soiety Aho

deny Aomen their fundamental ri"hts enshrined in laA( With suh a Aell of adersity to draA on it is

easy to oerloo# the Bositie steBs that are bein" ta#en to imBroe the oBBortunities and lies of

Cambodian Aomen( 'esBite the many auses for onern and han"e there is also sBae for refletion

on the inremental imBroements that hae been made in the last deade(

Freedoms and selfEconfidence

EmBoAerment is undersored by freedom( -tie emBoAerment inludes the freedom to "o to shool

the freedom to reeie uality health are the freedom to hoose a Fob and the freedom to hoose a

Bartner( +assie emBoAerment is to lie free from fear of Bhysial and sexual iolene and freedom

from disrimination and subseriene( These freedoms are enshrined in Cambodian laAs and

CE'-W and Bromoted and Broteted by G*!s and other or"anisations( Throu"h their efforts

Cambodian Aomen are "radually learnin" their ri"hts as Aomen and humans( This is the first

imBortant steB toAards Aomen in soiety "enerally hain" the onfidene to form their oAn "uilds and

ooBeratie "rouBs to Brotet and adane these freedoms(

$tate institutions and government2 A path to empowerment

,ittle oer a deade a"o Cambodia existed in a irtual state of nature( %t Aas throu"h the efforts of

Aomen suh as adame +&G* +en" Chen" /Si En" T!G*1 and )e# *-,-& /+&G* Chhi

)e#1 that Beae tal#s Aere able to ulminate into Beae aords( This small anedote Ahih ould be

hosen from many others demonstrates that Aomen are by nature Beae builders and adeBt in the art of

resolin" onflit by noniolent means( They hae an inte"ral role to Blay in iil soiety and

"oernment by helBin" Cambodia deeloB into a ountry that is mar#ed by "ood "oernane and a

resBet for human ri"hts(

any Aomen are han"in" the Bolitial and soial landsaBe throu"h their Aor# in G*!s and

"oernment( Women amBai"n tenaiously in all tyBes of G*!s aboe and beyond the many Aor#in"

on AomenHs issues ited in this reBort( -s diretor of the Centre for Soial 'eeloBment C.E-Dannath has ta#led one of the most serious Broblems in Cambodia today orruBtion( She has raised

57


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aAareness of this aner that Berades all leels of Cambodian "oernment and administration and

exBosed the hasm that exists betAeen funtionin" and imBotent demoray(

%nside the "oernment & Sohua has bro#en throu"h male Batrona"e netAor#s to hold a ministerial

Bosition( .er ba#"round in G*! and soial Aor# has enabled her to build a brid"e of ooBeration

betAeen iil atiism in re"ard to AomenHs ri"hts and "oernment( !ne as#ed Ahy she had hosen

to enter "oernment she delared O% Aant ]the^ BoAer to han"e the BoAer to "o to the head of Bolie

and say MSir$ Iou are resBonsible$P 1B

,a# of ulBability exaerbated by orruBtion has led to an insidious ulture of imBunity in

Cambodia( These endemi faults "o to the heart of Ahy it is so diffiult to enfore AomenHs ri"hts in

Cambodia today( With inreased numbers of Aomen in Brominent iil soietal and "oernmental

Bositions both at a entral and "rassroots leel there an be a future Ahere Aomen say OSir$ Iou are

resBonsible and now ou will be held responsible$P This is emBoAerment(

703Cited in .ood .overnance from the .round 7p2 )omen3s &oles in +ostEConflict Cambodia /,aura*reA )ate rieson Sambath ChanQ Women Wa"in" +eae Commission arh 20041 B(75(

52


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2eferences

Abuses &elated to the #nternational Adoption +rocess in Cambodia,/riefin" +aBer ,%C-'.!January 20021(

Cambodia (emographic and 4ealth $urvey ;BBB2 +reliminary &eport, /Gational %nstitute of Statistisinistry of +lannin" and inistry of .ealth 20001

Country +rofile &eport2 Cambodia, 6AAA(adb(or"=douments=.%DZ-%'S=mobility=b(Bdf1

Country +rofile &eport2 Cambodia /%W-W -sia+aifi arh 20021

Cambodia2 $ewing 0uttons for the world /!xfam * 20081

Cambodia2 %he 0ig +icture/&G%CE Cambodia 20081

Cambodian )omen3s 4uman &ights,/'r( )et *alabru e"ional 'ialo"ue betAeen WomenHs i"hts-tiists and .uman i"hts !r"aniNations anila 733


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4uman &ights and Cambodia3s +risons2 ;BB1 &eport on +rison Conditions,/,%C-'.! +hnom+enh 20071

4uman &ights $ituation &eport /The Cambodian .uman i"hts and 'eeloBment -ssoiation+hnom +enh January 20041

#nitial, $econd and %hird &eport on the #mplementation of the #nternational Convention on the'limination of all forms of (iscrimination Against )omen in Cambodia /oyal *oernment ofCambodia !tober 20081

#nnocent +risoners2 A #CA(4/ report on the rights of children growing up in prisons/.ilaryar"olis ,%C-'.! June 20021

Gustice and &econciliation Case $tudy Cambodia /in" R Try Ea Centre for the Study ofor"ieness and eoniliation 20071

ess than 4uman2 %orture in Cambodia /Jason arberQ +roFet -"ainst Torture /+-T1 eBort,%C-'.! June 20001

iving in the $hadows2 Acid Attacks in Cambodia,/+roFet -"ainst Torture ,%C-'.! 20081

5easuring the -umber of %rafficked )omen and Children in Cambodia2 A (irect /bservation Field$tudy 6Thomas ( Steinfatt &niersity of iami 20081

-eary &attanak2 )omen are +recious .ems FiveEHear $trategic +lan /inistry of WomenHs andDeterans -ffairs ebruary 73331

-./ Forum on )omen 0eiing 1*2 )omen3s &ights as 4uman &ights /,%C-'! 73351

-./ +articipation in Cambodia and &egional 'fforts to +revent %rafficking /'r )e# *alabru for,%C-'.! -%-T 'ebriefin" +aBer anila 20001

+artnership for .ender '!uity 6+.',/&G'+ 20081

+olicy Forum for )omen3s @ision of the Future /SBeeh deliered by 'r( )e# *alabru for,%C-'.! +hnom +enh -Bril 73331

+reparatory 'ducation &eport,/Cambodia %ndeBendent TeahersH -ssoiation +hnom +enh ay20041

&ape and #ndecent Assault2 Crimes in the Community /'iane !HConnell ,%C-'.! SBeial eBortebruary 20071

&ape and #ndecent Assault /,%C-'.! riefin" eBort +hnom +enh arh 20041

&eport on the 'limination of all forms of (iscrimination against )omen inCambodia /Cambodian G*! Committee on CE'-W 20071

&eport on the obbying Campaign for &evisions to the (omestic @iolence (raft aw,/C-!W+hnom +enh SeBtember 20021

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&eport on the 1? Campaign2 19 (ays of Activism Against @iolence Against )omen, 8ompng Cham,8onpong $peu D 8andal +rovinces /oWD- G*! Commission on WomenHs i"hts 'eember733;1

The an"#o# +ost /20081

%he @alue of )omen in Cambodian $ociety /The Cambodian Sene arh=-Bril 20041

The Cambodia 'aily /1? = ;BB"

%he Cambodian )omen3s Crisis Centre = 4elping women to help themselves/The CambodianWomenHs Crisis Centre -nnual eBort January R 'eember 20021

%he )orld 0ank .roup2 Cambodia (ata +rofile/httB:==dedata(Aorldban#(or"=external 1

%hreat to 4uman &ights (efenders in Cambodia /riefin" +aBer ,%C-'.! 'eember 20081(

7-#C'F2 Cambodia $tatistics 6httB:==AAA(unief(or"=infobyountry=ambodiaZstatistis(html 1

)omen and Conflict2 .lobal +erspectives (emocracy, (evelopment and +eace building,/SBeehdeliered by 'r( )e# *alabru for ,%C-'.! &) .ouse of Commons ay 73331(

)omen3s $tatus, 'ducation, 4ealth and +olitical +ower in Cambodia /SBeeh deliered by 'r( )e#*alabru Iama"ata JaBan 733;1(

)orking )omen in Cambodia /-strid -afFes ama -threya ,%C-'.! and -sian -merian ree,abor %nstitute1
http://devdata.worldbank.org/externalhttp://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/cambodia_statistics.htmlhttp://devdata.worldbank.org/externalhttp://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/cambodia_statistics.html

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Women in Cambodia