Promoting Equality and Empowerment for All Women and Girls
Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng – In a strong demonstration of commitment to gender equality, ADRA Cambodia partnered with the Provincial Departments of Women’s Affairs in Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, and Stung Treng provinces to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that women and girls can fully exercise their rights and have equal opportunities to thrive. This year’s celebrations highlighted the need for collective action in removing societal barriers and fostering an environment where every woman and girl is empowered.
Community Engagement Across Five Locations
Between March 5–6, 2025, ADRA Cambodia’s TOGETHER project, in collaboration with local authorities, hosted International Women’s Day events in five locations:
Date | Location | Total Participants | Female | Male |
March 5, 2025 | Phnom Tbeng Pir commune, Kulen District, Preah Vihear Province | 150 | 77 | 73 |
March 5, 2025 | Talat Commune, Sesan District, Stung Treng Province | 327 | 193 | 134 |
March 6, 2025 | Siem Bok Commune, Siem Bok District, Stung Treng Province | 240 | 141 | 99 |
March 6, 2025 | Sa Ang Commune, Chey Sen District, Preah Vihear Province | 109 | 74 | 35 |
March 6, 2025 | Tumring Commune, Sandan District, Kampong Thom Province | 156 | 64 | 92 |
Total | Five locations | 982 | 548 | 433 |
The events brought together 982 participants, including 548 women, fostering dialogue on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Key Messages from Local Leaders
Senior officials and community leaders emphasized the importance of empowering women, acknowledging the progress made, and calling for continued action.
Ms. Teng Sonu, a representative from the District Women’s Affairs Office, shared a message from Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, encouraging the empowerment of women and the creation of more opportunities for them to thrive.
Ms. Chim Sokthea, Deputy District Governor of Sandan district, reinforced this call, stating:
“Women and adolescent girls, especially those in rural communities, must have access to education, healthcare, and leadership opportunities. Gender equality is not just a women’s issue—it is a societal issue that requires everyone’s involvement.”
Mrs. Sorn Sokha, Director of the Provincial Department of Women’s Affairs in Stung Treng, highlighted the significance of this year’s celebration:
“This year marks the 114th anniversary of International Women’s Day. It reminds us of the long journey toward equality and the work still needed to break down barriers for women and girls.”
Mr. Sovan Piset, Governor of Sesan District, addressed the importance of women’s leadership and participation in decision-making processes:
“Women should not only be beneficiaries of change but also leaders in driving that change. We must support their capacity-building and ensure they are represented at all levels of leadership.”
Promoting Gender Equality Through Capacity Building
During the events, ADRA Cambodia’s TOGETHER project team highlighted the project’s contributions to strengthening gender equality in Cambodia. The initiative works alongside ministries and local authorities to train civil servants, community members, and students, ensuring they are equipped to support and advocate for women’s rights.
Through its gender-transformative approach, the TOGETHER project provides training in:
- Health education for secondary school teachers
- Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services for healthcare providers
- Counseling skills and violence intervention training for police officers and village guards
- Mediation, reproductive health, and nutrition education for commune councils and village elders
- Leadership and advocacy skills for youth representatives in schools and communities
Mr. Peng Poeung, a Community Management Committee (CMC) member from Tbeng Pir commune, shared insights on community-led efforts:
“Through the ColMEAL process, we are identifying challenges and proposing solutions. We urge local authorities and partners to support these initiatives and drive sustainable change.”
Watch the Event Coverage
For a glimpse into the celebrations, watch the event highlights here: Facebook Video Link
About the TOGETHER Project
ADRA Cambodia is implementing the “uniting TOwards Gender Equality for enjoyment of women’s and girls’ Total HEalth and Rights” (TOGETHER) project thanks to generous funding from the Government of Canada. Supported by ADRA Canada, SickKids, and Salanga, this gender-transformative 6-year project will ensure that nearly 200,000 girls, women, boys, and men in Cambodia, Kenya, the Philippines, and Uganda are enabled to exercise their health-related human rights.
For more information, contact:
📩 Phano Kong – Public Relations Coordinator
📧 [email protected]
📞 +855 77 398 477
