The Status of Women in Cambodia
 ambodia is a hierarchically ordered society with traditional cultural attitudes and norms that discriminate against women and girls and limit their choices and options. Women remain marginalized with gender disparities in rates of literacy, education, employment, and in the percentage of women in the professions and government. The following statistics illustrate the extent of the problems facing women and young girls in Cambodia , with figures stating that
- 45% of women are illiterate (70% are functionally illiterate);
- Only 16% of girls are enrolled inlower secondary school (grades 7-9);
- Only 5% of girls are enrolled in upper secondary school;
- Only 30% of upper secondary school students are female;
- Only 20% of university graduates are women;
- Only 10% of National Assembly members are women;
- Only 6% of the female workforce is paid;
- Only 8% of Commune Council members are women;
- Only 7% of judges are women;
- 23% of women have suffered physical domestic abuse.
Although the equal rights of women are formally guaranteed in the Cambodian Constitution , they are not sufficiently safeguarded and enforced by those in the corridors of power. In addition to this, women have very limited means to call attention to discriminatory practices or other specific problems relating to gender. This is generally due to their lack of legal awareness and limited knowledge of the rights and procedures available to them in order to exercise those rights. Only when women are made more aware of their legal position and the power that it affords them, can steps be taken to begin eradicating gender inequality and violence against women in Cambodia.
What is gender?
While there are many different definitions of gender, the Institute of Development Studies , University of Sussex UK uses the following terminology to define the concept of gender:
“Gender refers to the socialised roles of men and women in society. Gender refers to 'expectations' placed on people because they are either male or female”.
What is Gender and Development for Cambodia (GAD/C)?
 ender and Development for Cambodia (GAD/C) is a Cambodian local non-governmental organisation. GAD/C's mission is to promote gender equity in social, economic and political processes in Cambodia through sustained efforts to advocate for policy and legislative reform in relation to women's rights. GAD/C carries this out in partnership with other Cambodian NGO's, international and multilateral organisations, state institutions and other civil society organisations.
GAD/C's three-fold goal is to have:
-
effective enforcement of policies and
laws to protect human rights, especially women's rights;
-
grassroots support structures that
are strong in their solidarity and ability to solve problems;
and
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advocacy networks of civil society,
youth groups, and state institutions that mainstream gender
in all their activities.
GAD/C achieves these goals through three mutually supporting units:
What does GAD/C do?
Develops gender perspectives to assist government and NGOs to identify and implement policies
that address power imbalance between men and women.
Lobbies government on gender-sensitive legislation and provides coordination
for gender advocacy through a network of 61 NGOs (GADNet)
Provides local women's support groups with clear explanations of the law and their rights within it through Women's Empowerment through Legal Awareness (WELA) , a project that increases women's legal knowledge and their confidence to report rights violations to the police and local authorities.
Networks amongst men in response to the increasing incidences of violence against women in Cambodian society. The Cambodian Men's Network (CMN) involves men of all ages who share the common belief that violence against women is unacceptable.
Who are GAD/C's target groups?
GAD/C works specifically to help women secure their rights in Cambodia . As a gender organisation, it sees this task in the context of power relations between men and women and considers the role men can play as vital in achieving an equitable society. The main target beneficiaries are women - irrespective of class, age, ethnicity or other factors - with the focus being on women and girls at district and commune levels in order to inform them of their rights, to raise their legal awareness and to empower them to advocate for themselves.
As the majority of the current Cambodian population is made up of youth, GAD/C also targets youth groups, discussing and sharing information about issues most relevant for them. As a consequence, GAD/C view youth as a hugely important target group for our programme efforts.
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