INTRODUCTION
Although the Cambodian Constitution guarantees women equal
rights with men, the ability of women to claim these rights has
not been realized due to the prevailing social patterns that
afford women lower status than men. Gender disparities are
evident in access to health services, education, economic
activities, and participation in policy and decision making
roles. The issue of gender is one that pervades all aspects of
Cambodian society and thus requires coordinated and national
action.
The National Five-Year Strategic Plan for the advancement of
women was produced in February 1999 by the Ministry for Women's
and Veteran's Affairs. Its endorsement by the government
symbolizes a positive commitment towards promoting the status of
women in Cambodia.
At the First National Conference on Gender and Development in
September 1999 Cambodian NGOs committed themselves to advocate
on behalf of women to improve their access to health services
and education, to address the social problems of violence
against women and to improve women's participation in
decision-making roles.
KEY ISSUES
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Lack of educational opportunities
Current indicators reveal that girls are seriously
disadvantaged at all levels of formal education in Cambodia.
Despite the fact that boys and girls enroll in school in
equal numbers, girls tend to drop out in larger numbers than
boys and the gender gap increases as the level of schooling
rises. By age 15, male enrolment is 50% greater than female
enrolment.
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Domestic Violence
The extent of violent crimes against women is too vast to
ignore. A national statistical survey on domestic violence
revealed that one Cambodian woman in every six is a victim
of domestic violence and that half of all women reporting
abuse sustained injuries, half of which were to the head. (Zimmermmann
1997). Social and financial imperatives militate against
women leaving an abusive spouse. The abiding social and
cultural attitudes that condone male domination in the
household are reflected in the police and judiciary. Police
are reluctant to intervene in what is essentially regarded
as a "private matter".
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Trafficking and the Commercial Sex
Industry
The commercial sex industry in Cambodia is largely
characterized by abuse, violence and trafficking. Although
precise figures are not available it is estimated that
thousands of women and children are trafficked from rural
areas and neighboring countries to cities such as Phnom Penh
for the purposes of prostitution. Thousands of Cambodian
women and children are trafficked to Thailand, Malaysia and
Taiwan to work as prostitutes, beggars, constructions
workers, or port carriers.
With the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, women and children
involved in the commercial sex industry are particularly
vulnerable. It is estimated that approximately 42 percent of
commercial sex workers are HIV-infected. (AIDS Weekly Plus,
1999)
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Reproductive Health Problems
The infant mortality rate is 89.6 percent per 1000 births
and the maternal mortality rate is estimated to be between
473 and 650-900 per 100,000 births (UNFPA 1997; UNICEF
1995b). These statistics are among the worst in the region.
Cambodia has one of the highest fertility rates in the
region. There is a large unmet need for contraception. An
estimated 78 percent of couples of reproductive age
interested in birth spacing are unable to access
contraception (MOH 1995).
RECOMMENDATIONS
To improve the situation of women in Cambodia, the Royal
Government and the donor community are urged to:
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Encourage the passage of laws dealing with
rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence and prostitution.
We encourage the introduction of laws that protect women,
whilst recognizing the need for wide dissemination of
information about such laws and the imperative for proper
enforcement.
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Increase education and public awareness
about all forms of violence against women, including
education of military and police on issues of domestic
violence. NGOs have made some efforts to raise public
awareness about domestic violence through television
campaigns, and the use of traditional Cambodian theatre.
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Introduce a programme of domestic violence,
gender and human rights into the general school education
curriculum.
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Improve education for women in basic and
preventative health care, in nutrition and in communicable
disease. Improve access to family planning services and
information.
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Genuinely commit to the integration of women
and women's decision-making into policy formulation at all
levels.
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Promote strategies that target both men and
women in interventions so as to make their interdependent
relationship more equitable.
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