International Women’s Day: Empowering Women and Celebrating Their Achievement

Oxfam celebrated the 113th International Women’s Day by promoting Financial and Digital Inclusion and Inclusive Social Protection for women and girls. Oxfam partners and teams worked across the country to promote  inclusive social protection and gender-responsive social schemes, addressing the challenges faced by women and girls in accessing social benefits.

In Phnom Penh, Oxfam participated in Cambodia’s Women Run 10K, an annual running event co-organized by the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia and Sovannaphum Life. Thirty Oxfam colleagues joined the event, advocating for feminist financial inclusion and distributing #IWD2024 towels to running participants and visitors. Oxfam’s #HerMoneyMatters and #FairSharesForCare campaign highlighted the importance of financial inclusion for women’s empowerment.
 
Our partners also organized a campaign with the theme “Protecting Women and Girls for Sustainable Development and Social Justice” with a total of 1,000 attendees and 60 NGOs and unions. Attendees included workers’ and community representatives, Ambassador of the United Kingdom and Australia, and representatives from line ministries. Our partners presented 16 primary requests for policy intervention to elected representatives and government organizations. These requests called for better access to universal social protection, the establishment and enforcement of daycare policy at workplaces, better maternity and child benefits, and emotional support for women and girls who experience abuses. 

In addition to Phnom Penh, our partners collaborated with community committees, provincial commissions, associations and unions in Koh Kong, Svay Rieng, Preah Vihear, Kompong Speu, Tbong Khmum, Kampot and Siem Reap provinces to conduct public forums under the theme “Together to Promote Women’s Empowerment and Social Protection.” More than 2,100 participants, including farmers, street vendors, communities, youth, and women networks, joined these forums. Our partners showcased achievements in promoting and protecting women’s rights and identied ongoing needs related to gender-inclusive policies and livelihoods.

In Rattanakiri, six partners organized a collective campaign in Banlong city emphasizing the equal rights of  marginalized women facing intersectionality issues under the message “No discrimination against people and women living with HIV/AIDs and marginalized groups. We all have equal rights!”

In Prasat Balang district, Kampong Thom province, two indigenous organizations organized the first-ever theatrical performance called “The Shadow of Chher Teal” in Kui indigenous language to promote and protect their identity, enhance solidarity, and celebrate their culture and language among the young indigenous people. Around 1,000 people, mostly Kui indigenous from 15 communities in Preah Vihea and Kampong Thom provinces, attended the event and visited the exhibition showcasing indigenous products and identity.    

In Stung Treng province, we commemorated International Women’s Rights Day and the International Day of Action for Rivers with 113 participants, raising awareness about the vital connection between river conservation and women’s rights. Our focus was on investing in women to enhance their inclusion in decision-making processes, believing this will expedite progress towards sustainable water resource management and uplift the livelihoods of riverine communities.

The event concluded with a statement from the Women Leadership Network, represented by women river defenders from the Mekong, 3S, and Tonle Sap. This statement emphasized the pivotal role of women and their active participation in decision-making regarding water resource management, stressing the need to invest in women’s leadership for sustainable water governance. Additionally, it expressed support for an action plan promoting gender equality and eliminating child labor in the fisheries sector, urging collaboration among stakeholders for successful plan implementation. The statement called on policy makers and program implementers to prioritize gender equality in fisheries and water resource management policies, highlighting the importance of resource allocation and integrating gender considerations. These efforts aimed to construct an inclusive and sustainable future recognizing women’s leadership, promoting gender equality, and ensuring responsible river management.

Oxfam is also honored to support again the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in conducting its Poster Design competition and social media talk shows to celebrate International Women’s Month and promote gender equality. The competition invited young Cambodians, aged 15 to 35, to submit educational posters reflecting the theme of “Women and Girls in Digital Transformation”. This digital campaign not only allows Oxfam join MoWA in advocating for a just and gender-transformative society but also encourages the creativity, empowerment, and expression of youth.