Thursday, March 9, 2017

Financial independence is the rights and future of Cambodian women

Tin Sokhavuth



On the occasion of the International Women's Day 2017, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Mr. Sam Rainsy, former president of the opposition party CNRP, expressed a common view on promoting the rights of the Cambodian women by ensuring their financial independence.

In his speech in a ceremony to celebrate International Women's Day 2017, Prime Minister Hun Sen pointed out that to help Cambodian women join hands with men in developing the country, all political parties must continue to foster women's decision-making in the private sector and in the public service, as well as to financially support them.

As for Mr. Sam Rainsy, he wrote on his Facebook page on the International Women's Day that to elaborate the rights and future of the Cambodian women, their financial independence had to be secured. To achieve this goal, a reform in the field of education and vocational training is needed in order to provide Cambodian women decent jobs.

"To ensure dignity for Cambodian women we have to ensure their financial independence, which implies providing them with decent jobs, which in turn requires fundamental reforms especially in the fields of education and vocational training," wrote Mr. Sam Rainsy on his Facebook page.

Nevertheless, Prime Minister Hun Sen had other options in elaborating the rights of Cambodian women across the kingdom. According to him, the cooperation between Cambodia and foreign countries was also important to end cross-border violence against women such as trafficking in person, illegal labour migration for employment etc.

The premier also said that law enforcement regarding women's rights and gender equality was also an important component for a long term sustainable development in the kingdom.

Concerning this issue, Mr. Kem Sokha, the president of the opposition party CNRP, during the celebration of the International Women's Day 2017 at the CNRP's headquarter, took an example of Mrs. Mou Sokhour, by saying that only in his party where women could hold a very high function such as vice president of the party as Mrs. Mou Sokhour did.

"The CNRP has provided top functions in the party to women such as vice president of the party. Comparing with other political parties in the country, no woman could have such important function," said Mr. Kem Sokha.

Mr. Kem Sokha added that besides top function in the party, the CNRP has been also putting many women and girls on the list of the candidates for the upcoming commune election.

However, Mr. Kem Sokha pointed out that policy was good, but achievement was better. In any case, "policy" is just a kind of talking while "achievement" is a kind of doing.

"The government or the authority not just declare or celebrate the International Women's Day, they have to do and implement their policy in real life in order to ensure that women could benefit from their policy," said Mr. Kem Sokha.

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