Women's Rights Advocacy Officeadvocacy and reform by and for women
Radio roundtable with LICADHO representative and authorities
Women in Cambodia face numerous challenges and dangers, including gross human rights violations. Despite having ratified key human rights treaties like the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Cambodian government fails to provide women who have suffered gender-based violence with critical support services.The informal cost of forensic examinations, medical check-ups and medical certificates to be used in court are prohibitive and psychosocial services are rudimentary or simply unavailable.Fearing shame and further violence by their attacker, victims often do not report instances of gender-based violence. Corruption in the police and the judiciary means that perpetrators who are reported are often left unpunished. In some cases, particularly in rape cases, the police are the actual perpetrators.There is also a distinct lack of reliable statistics and information on gender-based violence in Cambodia.
What we do
In response to these issues, the Women's Rights Advocacy Office aims to educate communities on gender-based violence, provide assistance to victims and lobby the government, the international community and other non-governmental organizations. The Office's activities include:
- Disseminating information and educating communities and specific target groups in select communities about women's rights and law related to women's issues
- Investigating cases related to violations of women's rights such as domestic violence, rape and sexual assault and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation (HTS) in cooperation with the Women's Rights Monitoring and Protection Office
- Providing legal assistance including filing complaints with the courts or the police and representing victims of HTS in court in cooperation with the Legal Office
- Providing referral services to shelters, legal aid organizations and other vocational or rehabilitation NGOs
- Providing medical care and counseling where necessary in cooperation with the Medical Office
- Providing material assistance such as food to those in need in cooperation with the Social Work Office
- Conducting training on important aspects of women's rights with regards to women in the community and local authorities in the community
- Advocating and lobbying policy makers to take account of women's issues, interests and women's rights, and especially to protect these rights in all relevant laws and policies of the government
- Promoting gender equity between men and women through advocacy and lobbying policy makers to incorporate gender issues in the state's policies
