UNIFEM WOMEN, WAR AND PEACE WEB PORTAL: CAMBODIA

Civil Society and NGO Reports, Papers and Statements

Violence Against Women in Cambodia
Historically, Cambodians have suffered through a culture of violence perpetuated by the Khmer Rouge regime and other political groups. The impact of this violence continues to affect many people within Cambodia. One of the most vulnerable affected groups are the women of Cambodia. Violence against women – particularly in the form of domestic violence, rape, and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation – is one of the most serious human rights problems in Cambodia. This report reflects on domestic violence, rape and human trafficking for sexual exploitation of women in Cambodia in 2006. It concludes with recommendations for the Cambodian government, the international community and Cambodian civil society.

Good Governance from the Ground Up: Women’s Roles in Post-Conflict Cambodia   Executive Summary
Laura McGrew, Kate Frieson, Sambath Chan, Women Waging Peace. Policy Commission, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, Series Editor, March 2004
This report traces women’s contributions to governance and peace through local and national politics as well as civil society; examines the significance of gender perspectives to the promotion of good governance; and reflects on mechanisms enhancing women’s participation in the political arena.

Southeast Asian Women Call for Tribunal Against Khmer Rouge Leaders Demand End to Human Rights Violations Against Women in War
Asian Centre for Women's Human Rights (ASCENT)

The Slow Birth of Civil Society: Cambodia's Struggle for Democracy
Kek Galabru for International Alert, Case Study, 1999

Peace agreements as a means for promoting gender equality and ensuring participation of women – A framework of model provisions
Chea Vannath, The Center for Social Development, Phnom Penh, 10-13 November, 2003
Over the last three decades, Cambodia has suffered through war, genocide, and social chaos. The contemporary Cambodia history of tragedy began in the 1960’s when the cold war fighting in Vietnam spilled into Cambodia. There is no direct translation of the word “gender” in Khmer. We have to literally use the word “gender”. Also, we still have a strong misunderstanding of the concept of gender, in which it leads to the problem of decision makers being ‘gender blind’.

UN Documents

Women, Children and Returnees
Eva Arnvig. Peter Utting (Ed.). Between Hope and Insecurity: The Social Consequences of the Cambodian Peace Process. Geneva: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, 1994.

Government Statements and Reports

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): Combined initial, second and third Periodic Report of Cambodia (CEDAW/C/KHM/1-3)
11 February, 2004

Ministry of Women's and Veterans' Affairs (MWVA) First Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan

Books, Journals and Articles

Cambodia
Krishna Kumar, Hannah Baldwin and Judy Benjamin. Krishna Kumar (Ed.). Women and Civil War: Impact, Organizations and Action. Boulder: Lynne Reinner, 2001

When Broken Glass Floats
Chanrithy Him. W.W. Norton, 2000
In the Cambodian proverb, "when broken glass floats" is the time when evil triumphs over good. That time began in 1975, when the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia and the Him family began their trek through the hell of the "killing fields." In a mesmerizing story, Him vividly recounts a Cambodia where rudimentary labor camps are the norm and technology, such as cars and electricity, no longer exists. Death becomes a companion at the camps, along with illness. Today, the author works on the Khmer Adolescent Project, studying post-traumatic stress disorder among Cambodian survivors.

First They Killed My Father
Loung Ung. Harper Collins, 2000
When Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge army stormed into Phnom Penh in April 1975, Ung's family was forced to flee their home and hide their previous life of privilege. Eventually, they dispersed in order to survive. Loung was trained as a child soldier in a work camp for orphans while her other siblings were sent to labor camps.

In Their Own Words
The Advocacy Project, On the Record: Women of Southeast Asia Fight Violence, OTR SEAsia Vol. 5 Iss. 3 (Part 2), Volume 5, Part 3 – March 8, 1999

The Lessons of the UNTAC Experience and the Ongoing Reponsibilities of the International Community for Peace-Building and Development in Cambodia
Serey Phal Kien. Pacifica Review, vol. 7, no. 2, October/November 1995

UN Peacekeeping in Cambodia: Whose Needs Were Met?
Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan. Pacifica Review, vol. 7, no. 2, October/November 1995

Cambodia AIDS: AIDS Debate Upses Cambodia’s Women Politicians
Agence France Presse, 4 June, 2002
Cambodia's female politicians turned on their male counterparts Tuesday arguing a legal focus on AIDS and women was ignoring promiscuous men who were largely responsible for spreading the deadly virus, "Why should the law only be specific to girls and women?" asked female lawmaker Ly Kimleang during a heated debate on Cambodia's first legal effort to combat HIV/AIDS.