Cambodia has its First woman Deputy Prime Minister, and more women elected to the parliament in 2008

On the 13th October 2008 a reception party was held at the Imperial Garden Hotel, Phnom Penh, to celebrate the promotion of women in decision making in Cambodia’s new government and legislative body. Organised by the Cambodian Committee to Promote Women in Politics (CPWP), this was a ground-breaking event that for the first time brought together women across all political parties and factions to honour their achievement and affirm their efforts.

For the evening they joined together with 149 guests from various ministries, organisations and CPWP members representing minority, indigenous and mainstream Khmer communities. A highlight of the evening was the presence of H.E. General Men Sam On, recently appointed as the first woman in Cambodia to hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

The women had a lot to celebrate - from 2003 to 2008 the number of women in parliament increased from 12% to 21.95%. The percentage of women in the position of Secretary of State role from 6% to 8.16% and the percentage of women in the position of Under Secretary of State role from 5% to 15.38%.

The number of female Ministers remained the same, with H.E. Dr Ing Kantha Phavi maintaining her position as Minister of Women’s Affairs, however the appointment of H.E. General Men Sam On as Deputy Prime Minister increases the overall position of women in parliament. 

The networking event was a brilliant strategy that has started a process which will be continued by CPWP to break down barriers between women leaders, so that over time they can be more open to working together on common issues and addressing women's needs.

The United Nations Development Fund for Women supported CPWP with funding provided by UNDEF and UNDP. With this support CPWP promoted women’s leadership and participation in politics at all levels. CPWP holds forums across the country to discuss women’s participation in politics and to promote women’s rights. CPWP also lobbies political parties at all levels to include women candidates, not only in numbers but also in significant ballot positions, and provides training to women running for election.

CPWP is a coalition of seven Cambodian NGOs who bring expertise and experience from a range of technical areas critical to the promotion and inclusion of women in public decision-making. These organisations are SILAKA, Cambodian Women for Peace and Development, Cambodian Development Resources Institute, Gender and Development Cambodia, Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, and Women for Prosperity.

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