A march through Phnom Penh will be held on Saturday November 30 to denounce violence against women, particularly rape and domestic violence.

The march, organized by the Cambodian Committee of Women (CAMBOW), is part of the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. The 16 Days campaign is conducted each year in many countries around the world between November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day. The 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including December 1 which is World AIDS Day, and December 6 which marks the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The march by an expected 600 people will begin outside the Hong Kong Center on Sothearos Blvd at 6.30am and end at Wat Phnom. After speeches by government officials, parliamentarians and NGO leaders, the event will finish around 12 noon. All are welcome to join the event.
The march will highlight the need for urgent action against rape and domestic violence, which are two of the most common forms of violence against women in Cambodia.

An alarming number of rape cases are reported in Cambodia, and the victims are often young girls. In 2001, rape and indecent assault was the most common human rights abuse reported to the LICADHO rights group, with a total of 142 cases involving 150 victims. In the first six months of 2002, at least 89 rapes were reported in Cambodian newspapers, according to LICADHO monitoring of the press. More than half of the victims were aged less than 18 years old, including 16 victims aged younger than 11.

Twenty five percent of Cambodian women are affected by domestic violence, including physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse, according to a survey by the National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Health in the year 2000. An important proposed new law against domestic violence, which would introduce greater protections for victims, will soon be debated by the National Assembly.

CAMBOW strongly supports the new law, but has recommended some changes to it, including the removal of a clause which would allow husbands to rape their wives with impunity. The clause states that the draft law’s provisions against rape do not apply in the case of marriage, which would mean that marital rape would not be a crime. CAMBOW intends to continue to lobby members of the National Assembly to delete this clause.

CAMBOW is a coalition of 33 Cambodian NGOs that work to advance the cause of women.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Dr. Kek Galabru, President of Licadho 012 802 506,
▪ Ms. Hor Phally, Executive Director of PADV, 012 838 721.

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