Cambodia still faces formidable development challenges, with women's rights and gender parity at the top of the list. This presentation explores the pervasive imbalances in Cambodian society today, and four grassroots development organizations working directly with women to meet these challenges.

1. Issues in Cambodia: Women’s Rights and Grassroots NGOs that Serve Women

2. Presentation Structure Women’s Issues in Development International Systems Cambodian Context Overview of 4 Grassroots NGOs Questions and Discussion

3. Women’s Issues in Development

4. International Systems aimed at Women’s Issues

5. The Cambodian Context What is women’s status in Cambodia? Socio-culturally? Legally/Constitutionally?

6. Women’s Socio-Cultural Status

7. Women’s Socio-Cultural Status Education 71% of Khmer women are functionally illiterate (50% of men) Gender parity in primary school enrollment 2 boys to every 1 girl in secondary school Poverty, travel, and higher ‘opportunity costs’ of educating girls contribute to disparity

8. Women’s Socio-Cultural Status

9. Women’s Socio-Cultural Status Health Maternal mortality - 437 per 100,000 live births Infant mortality - 95 per live births 1 woman dies every 5 hours in childbirth 90% of births take place outside medical facilities Number of women living with HIV/Aids on increase Husband/wife and mother/child HIV/Aids transmission

10. Women’s Socio-Cultural Status Sexual Status 100,000 sex workers in-country (approx) 100,000 trafficked women and children Demand for commercial sex workers is increasing 23% of women suffer physical domestic/sexual abuse Over 300 rapes reported annually

11. Women’s Socio-Cultural Status Employment Women make up 52% of earning population 14% in waged employment (19% men) Garment industry and Agriculture are women’s biggest employers (84% and 51% respectively) Women averagely earn 33% less than men

12. Women’s Legal Status

13. Cambodian Context in Brief Despite international and national strategies to combat gender inequity, women’s status in Khmer society remains subordinate to that of men, and they remain at greater risk of violence and discrimination

14. 4 Cambodian NGOs focused on Women What do we need to know? Issue the NGO addresses (or aims to address!) Its goals and/or mission Projects/strategies/programmes Pros/Cons- Pari team expertise and opinions!

17. To provide holistic care and recovery

18. To provide women and girls with occupational skills

20. Legal Assistance and Support Programme

21. Reintegration Programme

23. Gender Based Discrimination

25. Empowerment

26. Rights

27. Holistic Rehabilitation

30. Provide housing and education for female students

32. Scholarship Opportunities

33. Elementary School in Kampong Chnnang

35. Provide education in lifeskills

36. Provide forum for women’s discussions/meetings

37. Provide access to information and resources

39. Mental Health Education

40. Language Education

41. Work Education