Press Release: Ministry of Women's Affairs and Oxfam Jointly Organize the National Forum on “Promoting Women Entrepreneurship in ASEAN through Social Protection and Family Care Policies”

Download PR in Khmer

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2022_Promoting women entrepreneurship hagoal of ts been the primary focus of the Royal Government of Cambodia. This focus is reflected in a number of key policies such as, the Government Rectangular Strategy which focuses on strengthening gender equality, social protection, and Cambodia's sustainable development goals with the ultimate goal of materializing gender equality and empowering women and girls. In recent years, the Royal Government of Cambodia has formulated and implemented the National Policy Framework for Social Protection to strengthen the economic well-being and resilience of the people, and reduce the risk of people, in particular vulnerable group, from falling into poverty and to ensure to the universal access to public health services in Cambodia.

A recent study estimates that domestic unpaid work performed by women in the world is estimated at USD$10 trillion per year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a UN report found that domestic work performed by Cambodian women increased by up to 20% while domestic work among men increased by only 10%.

The pay gap between women and men in Cambodia and at the regional level is also a primary issue that we should not overlook. Some research findings reveal that on average, women are paid 25% less than men for doing the same jobs, and most of women work in the informal economy spending most of their time on household work and caring for family members (women in the Asia-Pacific region spent 4.1 times more time than men on caring working).

In responding to these issues, the Ministry of Women's Affairs in collaboration with Oxfam are co-organizing a National Forum today on “Advancing Women Entrepreneurship in ASEAN through Family Care and Social Protection Policies” to advance women entrepreneurship in Cambodia and the region. This national forum is organized to raise awareness and engagement amongst stakeholders in Cambodian and ASEAN community about unpaid care and domestic work, family care and social protection policy, and to collect feedback to prepare a roadmap for Cambodia in the near future.

Her Excellency Dr. Ing Kanthaphavy, Minister of the Ministry of Women's Affairs said; “This forum will be an opportunity for the participants to understand comprehensively on unpaid care and social protection policies stated under ASEAN framework through the lesson learnt sharing from our speakers, and to collect inputs and recommendation for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and stakeholders to formulate a defined roadmap for future policy intervention of this important milestone”.

Ms. Phean Sophoan, National Director of Oxfam Cambodia, said: that “Social Protection and Family Care Policies are very important in supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia's efforts to reduce gender inequality and poverty alleviation in Cambodia, especially among women. Today’s forum reflects the efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia through the Ministry of Women's Affairs, relevant institutions and civil society organizations to promote an inclusive social protection and family care policies in the country and the ASEAN community. Oxfam and its partners will continue to support the government in reducing poverty and to strengthen gender equality in Cambodia. ”

There are a total of 200 participants attending physically and another 500 virtual participants attending via Zoom, they are the leadership and representatives from line ministries/departments, sub-national administration, diplomats and development partners, civil society organizations, women entrepreneurs and self-employed unions, national and international guests, who have been working with the Royal Government of Cambodia to promote and strengthen inclusive family care and social protection policy in Cambodia.