Violence Focus of International Women’s Day

Violence against women was the featured issue during the opening ceremony Thursday of the 91st Inter­national Women’s Day at Phnom Penh’s Chak­tomuk Theater.

Six out of 10 women in Cam­bodia experience domestic violence, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Wo­men’s and Veteran’s Affairs. And every kind of violence, whether rape, sexual assault, threats or harassment, are a great obstacle for women to participate in all spheres of life, Women’s Affairs Minister Mu Sochua said.

The opening ceremony kicked off a week of nationwide activities on women’s rights, such as public campaigns, parades and the Wo­men Walka­thon on Sun­day.

The activities lead up to In­ternation­al Women’s Day on Thursday, March 8.

Due to acts of violence a­gainst women in Cam­bo­­dia, the theme of Internation­al Wo­men’s Day was “buil­­d­ing together a society free of violence against women.”

“Many women re­main de­prived of basic rights, including the right to survival and the right of privacy, the right to chose jobs, and the right to equality in family and society,” Mu Sochua said.

An important step towards a non-violent society is the Cam­bod­ian Na­tional Coun­cil of Wo­men, inaugurated during Thurs­­day’s ceremony, the ministeradded.

The council will be chaired by the Wo­men’s Affairs Min­istry, which will work to advance the status of women.

(Additional reporting by Brian Calvert)

 

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