June 2014 - GADC

June 27, 2014July 16, 2019

Orientation workshop on “Gender Study Curriculum” to RUPP lectures

Phnom Penh 27 June 2014 – Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC) is pleased to inform an orientation workshop on “Gender Study Curriculum” to RUPP lectures which will be held on 17-18 July 2014 at Orchidee Restaurant (#106, Pasteur (St. 51), corner of Chakrey Ponn (St. 208), Phnom Penh).

Purpose of the workshop

To familiarize oneself with the finalized curriculum for gender studies course in Khmer language,
To obtain advanced knowledge about emerging issues such as intersectionality, sexualities, gender-based violence with a focus on violence against boys and men,
To test some study questions collectively developed by participants to the consultative workshop on 9 July, and
To clarify any matters in the final curriculum with the consultant Kasumi to have a clear understanding about the curriculum for a practical usage.

Below is the agenda for a 2-day workshop

Agenda

June 26, 2014July 16, 2019

Consultative workshop on “Gender Study Curriculum”

Phnom Penh 26 June 2014 – Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC) is pleased to inform a consultative workshop on “Gender Study Curriculum” which will be held on July 9 2014 at Orchidee restaurant (#106, Pasteur (St. 51), corner of Chakrey Ponn (St. 208), Phnom Penh).

The workshop aims to introduce a draft gender studies curriculum to key persons from public and private academic institution, government staff, and NGOs staff; also, to consult and gather the potentials comments and input to improve the quality of Gender Studies Curriculum.

About 25 participants will join this workshops on July 9 2014. They are from public and private academic institutions, government staff, and NGOs staffs who are able to provide potentials input and comment on the draft of gender studies curriculum. There have experiences on the gender issues and gender studies.

Agenda

Time	Content/Topic	Responsible
8:30-9:00	Registrations	RUPP & GADC’s staff
9:10-9:20	Welcome remark	RUPP’s Representative
9:10-9:20	Introduction and background of the project “Gender Mainstreaming in Academic Year” RUPP & GADC/PYD_ initiative the Gender Studies Curriculum	Ms. Ros Sopheak, Executive Director of GADC
9:20-10:00	Gender curriculum: Gender course syllabus, some example from universities Overview of the draft curriculum	Ms. Kasumi, Consultant Mr. Mina, Assistant
10:00-10:20	Break
10:20-11:00	Discussion about study question in Gender Studies Curriculum: Group discuss about study questions under each topic in the curriculum (Total 14 topics, participants divided into 2- 3 groups)	Ms. Kasumi, Consultant Mr. Mina, Assistant RUPP & GADC’s Staff
11:00-12:00	Presentations for the group discussion Q&A	Ms. Kasumi, Consultant Mr. Mina, Assistant
12:00	Lunch

June 25, 2014July 16, 2019

Public forum on “Gender Issue and the Implementation on Prevention Domestic Violence law

Phnom Penh 25 June 2014 – Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC) is pleased to inform Public forum on “Gender and the Implementation of Domestic Violence Law” on 5 July 2014 which will be held at Royal university of Phnom Penh.

The forum aims to share the information of the mechanism of the implementation of domestic violence law to deal with domestic violence issues and the effect of law implementation to victims and perpetrators. The event is opened for all participants from difference background and institutions, including youths and students through learning and sharing their perspective and experience related to the topic.

The event is join-organized by Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) and Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC).

For more information please download its schedule below:

Public forum schedule

June 23, 2014July 17, 2019

Press Statement “Disappointing results: a low number of Women Representatives elected in the Capital and Municipal Council Election”

23 June 2014 – We, the Committee to Promote Women in Politics (CPWP), Gender and Development Network (GADNet), Cambodian Men’s Network (CMN) and NGO-CEDAW are very disappointed with the results of the last Capital, Provincial and Municipal Council Elections, which were held on May 18, 2014. The final results confirm that the number of women elected is 458 (equivalent to 13.77%). In the 2009 Capital, Provincial and Municipality elections, 388 women were elected (equivalent to 12%). Comparing the results of the 2009 and 2012 elections, the number of women elected increased by only 1.77%.

The limited presence of women representatives is still far short of fulfilling the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals (CMDG) commitment, namely 25% representation of women in the Sub-National bodies by 2015. The 4th and 5th CEDAW Concluding Observation Report (dated October 18th, 2013) presented to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, has expressed concern regarding the low political representation of women in Cambodia.

June 19, 2014July 17, 2019

Press statement “Cambodian workers in exodus home from Thailand”

19 June 2014 – We are pleased to share you a “Press Statement” joint by NGO-network regarding a concern toward Cambodian workers in exodus home under Thailand’s new military government.

Tens of thousands of Cambodians have fled neighboring Thailand to return home, fearing a crackdown on migrant workers under Thailand’s new military government. We, NGO-network, appeal the royal government to take immediate action to survive Cambodian migrant workers.

June 12, 2014July 17, 2019

WOMEN, LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES AT NATIONAL AND SUB-NATIONAL LEVEL

Phnom Penh 03 June 2014 – GADC and CPWP with technical support of external consultant and financial support from PYD and Oxfam GB in cooperation with Center for Population Studies (CPS) carry out the study on Woman and Leadership in Political Participation.

Cambodia is the newly democratic country which has the 1^st Mandate of National Election in 1993 and the 1^st Mandate of Sub-national Election (Commue/Sangkat Election) in 2002 and 2008. Last year (2012), Cambodia became the 3^rd Mandate of Sub-National Election, this year (2013) the 5^th Mandate of National Electoral was on 28 July 2013, with 8 political parties involved in national election.

Woman’s participation in politics is a priority area to Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) who is working to achieve the Cambodia Millennium Development Goals (CMDGs) goal 3, the Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity, and Efficiency, and the National Strategic Development Plan and Nary Rattanak III. Woman’s participation in politics is significant increasing in National Level since 1993 to 2008, there was 6% of Woman National Assembly member in 1993, 11.5% in 1998, 19% in 2003 and 22% in 2008, with roughly an average of 6.84% every 5 years election term between 1993 and 2003, but in the 2008 election, which marked a progress of only 3% (MoWA 2008).

However, number of woman’s participation in politics has been achieved in women’s representation in elected positions, both at the commune level and in the National Assembly while the Deputy Positions at the Provincial Governor tremendous progress in 17% with comparing to CMDG 2015 target only 15%. Moreover, COMFREL (2012) reported that the 3^rd Mandate of Sub-national election (Commune/ Sangkat Election) remarked that woman candidates increased 4.28%, from the 21.36% in the 2^nd mandate of 2007, but only 0.45% (501) women were selected as first rank.

The number of elected female increase slightly, by 3.14% (376), from 14.64% (1,662) in 2007 to 17.79% (2,038) in 2012, even as the number of female commune/ Sangkat chiefs increasing by 1.68% (28) from 4.13% (67) in the 2^nd mandate to 5.81% (95) in the 3^rd mandate (COMFREL 2012). In the context, very few women are elected to the position of commune chief since 1^st Mandate of commune/Sangkat election.

In additional, CCHR (2013) Research Study showed that beside the directly election position called National and Sub-nation Election, Cambodia adopted other two systems indirectly elected position and appointed position (CCHR 2013, p. 30). First, the indirectly elected position, theSenate is the second legislative chamber at the national level and comprise of not more than half the number of representative in the National Assembly.

A report of International Parliamentary Unions showed that female representation within the Senate has remained essentially the same since creation of the Senate in 1999, 13.11% (8 of 61 senators) in 1^st Mandate (1999-2005), and 14.75% in 2^nd Mandate of 2006-2012 (MoWA 2008). Also theProvincial and Municipal Councils is indirectly elected position as detailed in the Organic Law that provide for provincial and capital councils and for municipal, district and Khan councils, which hold both legislative and executive authority to promote democratic development and decentralization…

Please download full TEXT (Draft)

June 12, 2014July 17, 2019

SHARING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CEDAW TOWARD GOOD PRACTICE

Phnom Penh 10 June 2014 – With a large gender-based gap, a lot of works and focuses have done to address equality in Cambodia to meet the Millennium Development Goal 3 by 2015. Progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go to tackle gender equality issue that remains a concern in the Cambodian development context.

As an observer, in some specific areas of regulation of the law and setting up legal framework have been improved in ensuring justice and remedies are benefited to victim as women and girls, especially in regards to violence against women and trafficking of women and girl issues. Women’s economic and empowerment, one of the area that are making women significantly have a choice to be having a livelihood and eradicate from poverty working in a divers sectors of private sector; for example, domestic jobs, working in garment factory, private company and more increasing working public sector in the position of leadership and decision-making role as well.

However, the picture remains one of significant inequity with women and girls attaining much lower levels of education; minimal progress in reducing maternal mortality; persistently high levels of domestic violence and sexual exploitation; the under-representation of women in decision-making roles; and inadequate resources to address gender discrimination within institutions.

The Royal Government of Cambodia signed CEDAW on 17 October 1980 and ratified it on 15 October 1992 without reservations. OP Protocol is then signed in 2010 to set up complaint mechanism and reporting case. The combined Initial, Second and Third periodic reports by the RGC were examined by the CEDAW Committee in January 2006 and a set of Concluding Observations was issued.

The 4^th and 5^th combined periodic reports on the implementation of CEDAW in Cambodia have successfully defended to the CEDAW Committee in October 2013. Critical components of the Convention were included in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia in 1993. Article “31” of the constitution reiterates that “The Kingdom of Cambodia shall recognize and respect human rights as stipulated in the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human rights, the covenants and conventions related to human rights, women’s and children’s rights.”

Cambodia has made lot of progress of CEDAW implementation, number of national laws and policies which responded gender equality have been enacted and promulgated and implemented. As results, Domestic Violence Law enacted and regulated, 1st NAPVAW and gender equality policy (Neary Rattanak III) have been developed, and implemented. In a new mandate of the government 2014-2018, the better development and implementation of new policies and action plans are crucially needed for Cambodia to address the gender gaps and inequality in order to achieve MDG ‘s goal 3 and to address CEDAW Coinciding Observations in 2013. As result, several initiatives have been made towards development of 2^nd National Action Plan to Prevent Violence against Women (2^nd NAPVAW), new Neary Rattanak IV, new National Strategic Development Plan etc.). These key policies are expected to be adopted by government to implement. This will provide opportunity and framework for civil society organizations, development partners and UN agencies to contribute implementation, monitoring and tracking accountability of government.

The result of forum on good practice on CEDAW implementation will attribute to the revision of the progress and challenges faced by and will identify ways forward for accelerating implementation MDG and post-2015 development agenda.

Additionally, the forum will create a national dialogue and network to better understand and respond how to identify the needs and join advocacy action improve the CEDAW convention. This forum will also provide opportunity to share experiences and expertise; reviewing success and challenges of services; identifying challenges; reviewing the application of CEDAW this included 52 Concluding Observations to Cambodia in 2013.

Five key areas of women issue will be raised for discussion in this conference. These issues are women’s economic empowerment; Women and education; Women and health; Violence against women and women indecision making. We plan to bring the result of the discussion from the conference to reflect the challenge that women are facing and give as an input to Neary Rattanak IV which it is now under internal discussion of MoWA.

June 12, 2014July 17, 2019

GENDER NORMS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE EXPOSURE TO RISK AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIV INFECTION.

Phnom Penh 11 June 2014 – Over the last decade, Cambodia has been a rare success story in the global fight against AIDS, cutting its HIV prevalence from an estimated 1.75% in 1998 to a projected 0.7% in 2012. Through improved service delivery and linkages the country has also achieved the universal access target for treatment, with over 80% of women and men, girls and boys in need receiving antiretroviral therapy (NCHADS, 2012a).

Despite these successes, pockets of high prevalence continue to exist, particularly in most-at-risk populations (female and transgender entertainment workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, men and women who inject drugs and male and female prisoners). With 70% of the population in Cambodia below the age of 30, many members of most-at-risk populations (MARPs) are young and engage in multiple and overlapping risk behaviors (NCHADS, 2013b).

Traditional norms and expectations about the proper roles for men and women still permeate Cambodian life and the concept of gender equality is not yet widely understood or accepted as a necessary part of the country development, Cambodia’s HIV-related funding has not, historically, fully addressed the gender dimensions of its HIV epidemic.

This is despite the fact that gender norms shape the status and roles of women and men, girls and boys, determining attitudes towards sex, sexuality, sexual behavior and relationships. In Cambodia, where the principal mode of HIV transmission continues to be heterosexual transmission, these gender norms play a critical role in the exposure to risk and the consequences of HIV infection.

Over half (55%) of the cumulative HIV infection cases in the country are among females, prevention coverage for men who have sex with men and transgender people remains inadequate (Ministry of Health/NCHADS, 2013b), and there is an urgent need to reduce loss to follow-up along the cascade of services for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV (Sovannarith et al, 2012).

These facts indicate gender differences in the utilization of HIV services by different groups of men and women, particularly among most-at risk populations and people living with HIV. It also suggests that despite Cambodia’s impressive gains in reducing HIV rates, more needs to be done to ensure women and men, girls and boys are able to access a comprehensive range of HIV services (Gender Assessment Report-HIV Services-Cambodia 14 November 2013).

June 12, 2014July 17, 2019

Invitation to a workshop on Ending Violence on Women in Cambodia

12 June 2014 – The Monash-HealthNet TPO program on violence in Cambodia explores changing ways to effectively address it. Sponsored by the Australian Research Council and working closely with Cambodian friends and partners, the Angulimala Walks team is committed to ending violence against women and girls.

We focus on the Cambodian lived experience of VAW, and the views upon causes and local solutions to violence. We have worked with the Reproductive and Child Health Alliance (RACHA), Room to Read, and Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC). We explore our postulate that Buddhist and local healing interventions – if appropriately implemented – helps victims and perpetrators of VAW. We aim to promote and developing effective and culturally responsive interventions to EVAW.

In this workshop, various scenarios studied over the past years will be presented. These cases have as much to do with violations of culturally driven norms as with stereotypes of alcohol, poverty and social change.

June 11, 2014July 16, 2019

Training on Gender Based Violence and HIV/AID

Phnom Penh 11 June 2014 – Gender and Development for Cambodia is pleased to inform a training on “Gender Based Violence and HIV and AIDS” to Reproductive Health Association of Cambdodia (RHAC).

The aim of the training is to build the capacity of the project staffs to respond to the needs to changes for women and girls and men and boys living with HIV to participate fully in and access of HIV-related services.

Training objectives:

Participants are able to identify the gender issues in Khmer social and culture norms, and to identify positive norms to promote gender in Cambodia;
Identify the impact in area of HIV/AIDS link with masculinity and gender based violence (GBV) and possible intervention and solution related to PLHIV; and
Participants are able to apply effective methods of HIV/AIDS and gender education in the project activities, and to advocate removal of barriers with local authority, health providers, and community people.