“Promoting Political Participation of Indigenous Women in Cambodia”
The Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF) and the German Technical Cooperation Support to Administrative Reform and Decentralization Program implemented by GTZ (GTZ ARDP) supported the Launching Ceremony of an Action Research on “Promoting Political Participation of Indigenous Women in Cambodia” organized by the Committee to Promote Women in Politics (CPWP) on March 31st, 2010 at the National Institute of Education. This event was presided over by Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior.
The launch provided an opportunity for participants from international and local organizations and representatives of local and national government working with indigenous communities in Cambodia to learn about the research finding and discuss recommendations outlined in the study. The organizers are hoping that organizations and individuals will use the recommendations provided by the research to shape their projects/program implementation to be more effective in promoting the political participation of indigenous women in Cambodia.
The launch brought together 77 participants from both houses of the Parliament, indigenous communities, commune councils, representative from Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Women’s Affairs, national, local and international organizations and the lead researcher of the action research, Ms. Margherita Maffii.
During her opening speech, H.E. Chou Bun Eng, on behalf of the Ministry of Interior, welcomed the research findings and considered this document as important and useful for all stakeholders whose work involves indigenous women. The launch of the research ended at one o’clock with a very fruitful penal discussion involving two parliamentarians, representatives of indigenous networks, representatives of Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Director of Silaka. The launch has contributed to an even stronger commitment to promote women and especially indigenous women in politics.
The research itself was conducted in 2008 and finished in 2009. GTZ ARDP and HBF consider this research an important instrument to inform policy makers and those working on indigenous issues of the current situation and constraints faced by indigenous women to engage in political life. GTZ ARDP and HBF ’s support was provided within the framework of an ongoing partnership with the Committee to Promote Women’s in Politics (CPWP). This cooperation aims at strengthening the capacity of CPWP to strategically work with all relevant stakeholders especially the government to encourage more women to engage in local politics. The study is available at the offices of HBF, GTZ ARDP, and CPWP, or can be downloaded the file below: