Empowering Women: The Progress and Challenges of Women's Rights in Cambodia

Rights and Reality are not the same

The rights of women in Cambodia are of great importance. It is a priority for the country to ensure that women are given equal opportunities and respect. The government is committed to making sure that women are able to access the same resources and privileges as men. Additionally, they are working to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women.

The Cambodian government has instituted a democratic system with laws to protect women from domestic violence and trafficking. This is particularly remarkable given the country's history of a devastating genocide that wiped out most state and private institutions. Nonetheless, women in Cambodia still don't have the same rights, access, and protections as men. Here are six essential facts about the status of women's rights in Cambodia.

Here are 6 Facts About Women's Rights you probably were not aware of in Cambodia

1. Benefits: From 1998 until 2015, the literacy rate for adult women in Cambodia rose from 57% to 75%. Women also own 61% of businesses, although they only comprise around 51% of the population. 1, 2

2. Representation: Since Cambodia's reconstruction in the 1990s, the amount of female politicians has risen drastically, although they still occupy fewer than 20% of posts. Statistics show that only 14% of Cambodia's judges and 20% of its lawyers are women.

3. Sex Trafficking: A 2018 Global Slavery Index reported that Cambodia has an estimated 260,000 people who are victims of human and sex trafficking. In Phnom Penh, the nation's capital, it is believed that close to 20,000 prostitutes live there but that number has grown 400% after 2020, with many of them being underage. One organization devoted to rescue work stated that 40% of the individuals they dealt with were minors. According to UNICEF, virginity is sold for a price of $800, which is greater than 20 times the average weekly wage. This leaves poorer families with no other option. It is thought that the lack of enforcement for this issue is due to the relationship between law enforcement and brothels. 4. Domestic Violence: Reports indicate that four in five women between the ages of 15 and 49 in Cambodia have faced physical violence as documented by a national human rights group in 2017. Migrant and sex workers, as well as women with disabilities, are especially exposed to gender-based violence. Unfortunately, in many cases, domestic violence is not considered a criminal offense in Cambodian courts which causes many women to drop their complaints or refrain from pressing charges. From 2014 to 2016, only about 20% of domestic violence cases nationwide were being monitored. Additionally, even though acid attacks are against the law, Cambodian women are still affected by them on a yearly basis. Consequently, the Human Rights Watch is pushing for more protections. 5. The Chbap Srey: A centuries-old poem composed by a male poet named Krom Ngoy, which is known as the "law for women" or a set of rules, is still considered as the basic foundation of gender roles in Cambodia. It is frequently taught to both boys and girls, either by their female family members or in schools. This rulebook emphasizes that women should remain silent about the intimate aspects of their home and marriage to outsiders. Consequently, both the U.N. and other women's rights organizations have voiced their opposition to the Chbap Srey for propagating domestic violence. Until 2007, the poem was part of the national curriculum, however, many schools have only removed some of the rules. 6. The Law on Public Order: In 2019, a new national draft law was proposed that would allow police to fine or arrest women who wear clothing deemed "inappropriate" in public. The legislation would regulate the amount of skin shown and also apply to men who go shirtless. This response was due to government officials objecting to how some women were using sexy clothing to market items online. The prime minister said this violates traditional Cambodian values and customs. A minister voiced his approval of the bill to the press, claiming that clothing should not be shorter than the mid-thigh and that this law is not just about public order but also about tradition and customs. While provincial authorities have endorsed the legislation, women's rights organizations have strongly opposed it. They criticize the oppressive aspects of traditional dress codes and argue that legalizing the policing of women's outfits will normalize blaming victims of domestic and sexual violence instead of the perpetrators.

Cambodia has seen many developmental advances, and women are playing an ever-growing role in its evolving economy, pushing back against a society that tends to marginalize them. However, due to the lack of support and openness, women are often unable to voice out when they experience abuse. But, with more and more women being educated, they are starting to stand up for each other and their rights. Representation in politics for Cambodian women is also at a record high, and with the help of international organizations, they are striving to make women's rights in Cambodia a priority, and abolish the vicious cycle of sex trafficking.

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