Many Cambodian women still remain living in an abusive environment. Over 30% of women who have ever had a partner have experienced some form of violence from their intimate partner in their life time (CDHS 2014). 

Sadly, women who have experienced violence never talked to anyone about it and only a quarter of them sought help from formal service providers including police, local leaders and health care providers, according to a survey done by WHO in 2014 (National Survey of Women’s Health and Life Experience in Cambodia).

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is mandated to uphold the sexual reproductive health and reproductive rights of women, adolescents and youth, and thus is committed to preventing and ending violence against women in Cambodia. 

“We have supported the development of guidelines to help service providers assist survivors of violence in an ethical and timely manner. The provincial team in 25 provinces have been trained using these tools”, remarked Ms. Catherine Breen Kamkong, UNFPA Deputy Representative, addressing around 200 participants from relevant government institutions and stakeholders at the policy dialogue forum on gender-based violence multi-sectoral response held in Phnom Penh in October 2017.

“Violence is not just a woman’s problem; it is our issue! It affects the entire household and society. I call everyone to action, small or big, to make our home and society violence-free”, said Excellency Hou Samith, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs during her opening remarks of the forum.

In partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Ministry of Health, UNFPA has designed and implemented a comprehensive national and sub-national training strategy for health personnel and women’s affairs department in 25 provinces. To date, UNFPA has trained 258 health providers from 66 health facilities in its nine targeted provinces. UNFPA also supports the working group on gender-based violence for referral purpose among different institutions that support VAW survivors in three provinces, namely Kampong Cham, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear through the technical support from Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

Following a recommendation in the mid-term review of the National Action Plan on Violence Against Women II, a multi-sectoral coordinated response mechanism must be established and the policy dialogue forum is one activity to mobilize social services for all survivors of violence in a quality manner. The forum is organized by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and jointly supported by UNFPA, UNWOMEN and GIZ.