Development and assistance for women

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs invites all federations, associations and communities of women entrepreneur-driven micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Cambodia to join its planned Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (CamWen) initiative, the ministry said. ...

According to a report by the National Social Security Fund obtained today, the Cambodian government has spent more than $10 million on female workers in both formal and informal sectors through the NSSF between January and June. ...

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided more than $1 million to a Collective Action to Support Women’s Rights (CASWR) project to promote the leadership and engagement of women in politics. The CASWR initiative is a 32-month project designed to advance meaningful representation ...

In its annual report signed yesterday, the Cambodian National Council for Women lauded the government’s efforts to increase gender equality throughout society, though women’s rights activists today raised doubts about the achievements.The council highlights in the report that the economic and political status of women ...

The Asian Development Bank needs to be more involved in helping Cambodia implement gender equality policies in order to “tap the economic potential” for women and close “sizable gender equality gaps”, an internal evaluation has found. ...

The US government has pulled any future funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a group focused on reproductive rights for women and girls, over claims it has practiced coercive abortions and involuntary sterilizations in China.   ...

Female construction workers earn on average about $2.50 less per day than their male counterparts, are given fewer opportunities to learn new skills and are victims of outdated gender stereotypes, a new report says.   ...

Female workers across multiple sectors yesterday urged two ministries to ratify International Labour Organization conventions to ensure protections for expectant mothers and domestic workers, the latter of whom are not even covered under Cambodia’s Labour Law. ...

Violence against female staff at entertainment venues in Cambodia has dropped as education among staff, patrons and owners has increased, according to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, although it warned that the success had not been repeated at karaoke parlors (KTV).​ ...

Acleda Bank, a leading locally-owned commercial bank, has received a $30 million loan from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US government’s development finance institution, through Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women and the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Banking on Women program for supporting women-owned small ...

One year strong and more than 900 jobs later, the US State Department-supported start-up center WECREATE, which invests in the economic empowerment of women, is beginning its expansion throughout the Lower Mekong Region. ...

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) provided Amret Microfinance Cambodia with a grant of $245,000 to help more women in the Kingdom access financial services and eventually contribute to local community development. ...

A US-based organisation that helps young women from post-conflict countries attend school in the United States is currently seeking Cambodian applicants who have the academic strength and leadership potential that could land them in a top US school. ...

A domestic violence law long criticized by human rights and gender advocacy NGOs for inadequately protecting abuse victims is being reviewed by the government in a renewed effort to reduce violence against women. ...

Poor women in Cambodia are more likely to use long-term reversible forms of birth control, like IUDs or implants, if they receive outside assistance, a new study has found. ...

Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA) received $50,000 from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to help develop the business and financial management skills of women entrepreneurs through training and workshops. ...

Acleda Bank signed an agreement in Bangkok yesterday with International Finance Corporation and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative for a $70 million long-term loan project to support Cambodia’s small- and medium-size enterprises (SME) owned by women. ...

Cambodia has the third-highest prevalence rate for modern slavery in the world, trailing only North Korea and Uzbekistan, according to the Global Slavery Index 2016, released this morning by the Walk Free Foundation.   ...

More than 200 activists attempting to cycle from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to the National Assembly in Phnom Penh to mark International Women’s Day were penned in by authorities Tuesday morning after pedaling less than 100 meters.​ ...

New targets have been set to boost the number of women in positions of influence, according to an initiative launched yesterday by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. ...

The United Nations and the Cambodian Ministry of Women’s Affairs will organize four major events across the country to raise awareness of the need to end violence against women and girls, according to a UN Women’s statement on Wednesday. ...

A worldwide, 16-day campaign to end violence against women kicked off in Cambodia yesterday, with NGOs, the United Nations and government agencies intensifying their efforts toward preventative measures.Spanning from yesterday’s International Day for Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls until Human Rights Day on December ...

Government ministries bound by sexist traditions and a lack of support are keeping women officials across Asia from implementing their ideas, female leaders gathered for a four-day seminar in Phnom Penh said yesterday. ...

The push for gender equality must start within families and parents should encourage their daughters to speak their minds, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeung Sackona said. ...