Marking International Women's Day: Gender equality in Cambodia

By Kristina Novak and Laura Gavin.

As our 10-year anniversary approaches here at Chab Dai, we've been looking back at human rights issues and asking ourselves what has changed, what has been challenged and what has improved in this time.

To coincide with International Women's Day on Sunday March 8^th, as well as campaigns like the UN's #HeForShe movement, we decided to take a closer look at gender equality in Cambodia.

At Chab Dai, we're constantly working towards best practice with our members and stakeholders on this issue, addressing gender-based exploitation and discrimination within a human rights framework.

But how has gender equality moved forward since we opened our first office in 2005?

Women's rights and Cambodian culture

Since ratifying CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) back in 1992 and the Optional Protocol in 2011, Cambodia has adopted an official commitment to women’s rights. However, we still have a long way to go to see these rights in practice.

Women in this country still face centuries-old cultural norms stemming from the Chrab Srey moral code, one that dictates they should always respect the decisions of men, whether right or wrong.

A UN Women report stated that 'Women, who make up more than half the population, constitute the majority of the poor', while the Global Gender Gap report for 2014 ranked Cambodia at number 108 in the world – the lowest of the South-East Asian nations – on criteria such as education, economic participation and work opportunities.

With domestic violence against women also on the rise in recent years, we still face challenges in gender equality here, in the younger generations as well as the older.

The next generation and gender equality

With around 50% of the country's population under the age of 25, it's important that the next generation is well-informed about gender equality. However, studies like Tong Soprach's 5-year longitudinal research on young people and Valentine's Day have shown that many have an unhealthy, and even dangerous approach to relationships between men and women.

Soprach's research showed that a large percentage of young men intended to have sex – consensual or not – on Valentine's Day, year on year. Though this decreased over time, it is an alarming dichotomy that instances of rape should occur on this day in February, mere weeks before we celebrate the empowerment of women on International Women's Day.

Once again, it's knowledge which could be part of the answer to changing these kind of attitudes towards gender.

Orng Muylen, Chab Dai Finance Director

Empowering women in Cambodia

Knowledge-sharing is one of our key prevention tools in the fight to stop human trafficking, and much of Chab Dai's training with communities addresses related issues like exploitation of women, and educating people on the value of women and children. We are also currently working on a dedicated gender inclusion policy, and many of our project managers and senior staff are women, including Finance & Operations Director, Orng Muylen.

On a more national level, women are becoming more prominent in politics, with the election of the first female Deputy Prime Minister, and an increase of nearly 10% in the number of women elected to parliament between 2003 and 2008. And in 2014, LICADHO made a report wherein women were not only classified as victims, but as protagonists: 'Women Land Campaigners and the Impact of Human Rights Activism' following women dealing with land conflicts.

The report also emphasised how this issue has been changing the attitudes of the women themselves: 'Our tradition says we should listen to our husbands. I decided to choose the community and continue with my activism'.

So as we reach our landmark anniversary and look forward to the next 10 years at Chab Dai, it's great to hear such stories of hope. As Muylen affirms:

'We are women, we do not work or follow what men are asking us...we need to stand up for what we have to do. We stand up for ourselves, we have a value, we are people just the same – if men can do something, we can do the same.'

Image of couple by Gunawan Kartapranata used under Creative Commons licence. All other images provided by Chab Dai.

"It's Better When We're Together"

By Kristina Novak

I have always admired the dedication and focus of people willing to put aside small differences and be ready to connect with others to increase the quality and impact of their work. Margaret Mead, a great anthropologist and social reformer, understood well, the power of dedicated individuals working together for a common purpose.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

Now imagine that there is not one but many groups of dedicated individuals - each person is different, yet working together for a common goal.  What happens when such a coalition forms? The impact increases, lessons are shared, accountability grows and gaps are filled with the various skill sets.

This is the case for Chab Dai. In Khmer, the name literally means “joining of hands” and that’s what it really is -  a set of connected organizations that vary in expertise and have one common purpose - to fight human trafficking and exploitation. I love witnessing how this ethos results in providing better protection from exploitation and care for survivors.

One of the ways Chab Dai facilitates better connectivity between its members is through various forums such as Child Protection, Aftercare and our Social Work forum. The day is usually spent in sharing lessons learned and looking at best practices and challenges that may lay ahead as well as create space for the forming of new partnerships.  

When it comes to collaboration, there is one forum that I really appreciate right now, which is our Outreach Forum. The Chab Dai members that work in direct outreach to the vulnerable and exploited children, women, men and the transgender community here in Cambodia (altogether 44 participants from 17 organizations), spent a day sharing their work and learning from each other’s field experience.

Collaboration was unfolding right in front of my eyes. As I was taking notes of the meeting and hearing stories from the field, I could not help but admire each individual’s hard work and dedication to serving and protecting our most vulnerable. Their dedication is mirrored by the long hours they invest in their field and by the their resilience and faith they hold for those they help. All of this came across in the presentations they shared.

But there was something else that gave the meeting its energy and focus. It was this unfolding of collaboration. With such a variety of organizations that Chab Dai coalition encompasses - even just within its outreach field - the mutually beneficial lessons, skills and resources of the forum members were quickly recognized. Participants presented on their programs, including their outreach on the streets and in entertainment establishments, running day centres, dorm houses and health clinics, and providing education and employment training. 
Q & A sessions followed each presentation which fostered dialogue on the conceptualization of collaboration for their projects. 

Alongside the building of partnerships, a short training was provided by a member organization on legal issues surrounding outreach and work with vulnerable populations. Such knowledge is essential for protection of outreach workers as well as for educating clients on their own rights in Cambodian law. 

Apart from the presentations, participants engaged in a “Service Mapping” exercise by marking out the geographical areas of their outreach on maps of Phnom Penh and Cambodia. They also used colour coded papers to show data about their services:  Orange indicated "Who For?" (client group), Pink - "Where?" (The establishment), Green answered the "What?" (services and programs), and Yellow indicated "When?" (Night or day). On its completion, the final product had a clear visual of the existing services and mapped out areas of possible collaboration.

It is truly inspiring to see the manifold impact a simple connection can have.  After all, as a line from one song goes, “it’s better when we’re together.” The Outreach Forum organized by Chab Dai was one such space where, even as the forum was progressing, new partnerships formed and the lessons shared were turned into action strategies. I call that a time well spent. Together.

Graciously Authentic

The idea of authenticity is something I have been contemplating a lot this year. I often wonder how I can achieve being consistently faithful to the internal instead of the external. How I can undo any counterfeiting of my character and become more bona fide, genuine and trustworthy.

Last week in Amanda's blog, she talked about how every person is unique and not only do we have our own skill set, but we also have our own perspective on things. By acknowledging this, we can grow and collaborate together. But it must start with being authentic.

Struggling to find what you align and identify with and how to act with your innermost being can be difficult. Being authentic can also be painful at times, especially when others do not see the same perspective as you and consequently doors become shut. Authenticity encourages you to be brave and in the long run, it brings the greatest relief to the heart. 

Stephen Covey once said, “The more authentic you become, the more genuine in your expression, particularly regarding personal experiences and even self-doubts, the more people can relate to your expression and the safer it makes them feel to express themselves. That expression in turn feeds back on the other person’s spirit and genuine creative empathy takes place, producing new insights and learning and a sense of excitement and adventure that keeps the process going.”

In this sense, to be authentic is also to trust yourself, and when we can trust each other, we are open.  It forces you to face your fears, not run from them, and allows you to put fear into perspective. In remaining authentic, remind yourself that you can either judge yourself by your weakest moments or by your strongest, but ultimately it is your choice. Authenticity is also a choice. Have the courage to acknowledge your limitations and embrace your vulnerability. What it is that you want, admire, believe, dream and aspire to be? What is it that you cherish most? How do you want to connect with others? When we are loyal to our intentions we become bona fide. And when we align with our self image, stature and public image we are being authentic. So be graciously authentic and thrive in being you.

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When Helping does not Hurt … (Paying it Forward)

By Kristina Novak

We have countless conversations in our office on what effective help looks like.  For me, it’s never an easy, clear-cut answer. I like to look at the long-term impact. Will this initiative be a sustainable grassroots-driven solution over time?  Is it based on a correct understanding of what the problem is?  Or is it just a quick fix – a plaster that covers the pain for a while, making one feel useful and helpful, but does not deal with the source of the problem. Does it have the purpose and infrastructure to empower individuals to live independently of the aid once it’s gone and become agents of change in their own communities?

Additionally, how do we measure the impact of aid correctly? Some indicators of change show up fast. To measure a long-term impact, we have to collect data over time and observe the shifts in the environment. Seeing a positive change on an individual and at the community level is not only rewarding, but to me, is truly motivating. This is part of the reason I really enjoy working with Chab Dai. I get to witness the impact both our Khmer and expat teams have in fighting exploitation and human trafficking. I see this impact in the lives of individuals that are empowered by education and in the increase of options that are made accessible to them. I also get to see the awareness that is created within a community and the shifts in policy towards better protection of the vulnerable.

A previous blog post talked about the unsung Khmer heroes that do pioneering work in their own communities. My colleagues, both expat and Khmer, are truly inspiring people in the way they live, work and how they deal with the challenges of either living cross-culturally or as nationals of a post conflict country. One of my Khmer colleagues, Sopharith, recently shared his thoughts on what motivates him to do the work he does. Because his story greatly inspired me, I would like to share it. It points to how long-term effects of good aid impact not only the individual but the community as well.   

Sopharith manages Chab Dai’s Doorsteps project and with his team, they work to build the capacity of local grassroots leaders. They offer training on project cycle management and grant acquisition, mentoring leaders and also training on counseling and social work skills.  Doorsteps’ work has significant impact in Cambodian communities. Sopharith shared with me that his inspiration to do the work of capacity building comes in part from his childhood experience. As thousands of other Cambodians did, he grew up in a refugee camp during the civil war that followed the collapse of Khmer Rouge. Conditions in the camp must not have been easy but Sopharith has fond memories of the aid workers who administered the aid. 

“These people worked very hard,” he said. “They also helped to build up our capacity by providing education to us. They inspired me to do the same, to help the people in my country. I love my job at Chab Dai because I too can now work to build capacity of Khmer people and see them become agents of change in their communities.”

Sopharith’s story inspires me. It shows that effective aid empowers not only independence, but a motivation and ability to empower others. Thank you Sopharith and everyone who works hard to contribute to positive, long term change.