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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(
87
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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(
49
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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 >-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
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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
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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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