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Australia is strongly committed to promoting women and girls’ safety, growth and well-being. We have extended our close partnership with Ministry of Women’s Affairs through the implementation of the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) Program, which aims to improve the sustainability, quality and inclusiveness of services for women affected by GBV in Cambodia. Not just in Cambodia but also around the globe, Women and Girls are impacted by violence that prevents them from claiming basic human rights such [...]


On 9 December 2022, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), with support from the Australian Government through the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) Program and UN Women, organised the 28th meeting of the Technical Working Group on Gender – subcommittee on Gender-Based Violence (TWGG-GBV) and the closing ceremony of the 16-Days of Activism for Ending Violence Against Women Campaign. The meeting aimed to join in the celebration of the 16-day campaign to end violence against women under the [...]


Physical rehabilitation centres (PRCs) play a crucial role in providing physical rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities, including children. Through the ACCESS Program, Australia supports six of Cambodia’s 11 PRCs, located in Siem Reap, Kien Khleang (in Phnom Penh), Prey Veng, Kratie, Takeo, and Kampong Cham. Recently, Ambassador Kang opened the Siem Reap PRC. The Siem Reap PRC was closed in December 2020 to make room in the provincial hospital grounds for the COVID-19 response. Australia is proud to have assisted [...]


In this first episode of the “Cowater Corner” podcast series, we explore the efforts of our Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-funded ACCESS #Cambodia project in tackling gender-based violence (GBV) in the context of the 16 days of activism against #GBV campaign. #16days #16daysofactivism #GBV Listen to the podcast on Facebook by click the link https://fb.watch/hjSEv-Lddq/


Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. To mark this day, the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) program is launching a storybook to showcase 15 success stories of persons with disabilities supported by the program. The book features seven stories of women with disabilities—showcasing their achievements in their communities and highlighting their resilience to overcome many barriers including discrimination. Tann Soren’s story is one of those highlighted. She lives in Siem Reap province and graduated with a [...]


To commemorate the 24th National Day of Persons with Disabilities, the 40th International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and to raise public awareness of the valuable contributions of persons with disabilities towards achievement of justice and equity within our society, the Australian Government through the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) Program produced this booklet of 15 champions with disabilities about their impact stories, in collaboration with the Disability Action Council, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and [...]


The ACCESS program supported by Australia provides opportunities for victims of gender-based violence to improve their livelihoods and achieve greater economic independence through vocational training. “I want to see gender-based violence survivors forget all of their sadness and feel empowered through the vocational training skills that I provide.” Ms Soub Habsros, a Vocational Trainer, provides training to survivors at the Safe Shelter of the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center in Phnom Penh. Survivors learn to sew souvenir bags, make coffee, and bake [...]


Since 2013, Australia has contributed $15 million to implement the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women. We work closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs to improve support and services for victims of gender-based violence through the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) program. A survivor of domestic violence in Siem Reap said “I am very happy that my case was resolved. I would like to encourage female survivors in my community to not [...]


Each year, the world celebrates 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence from 25 November to 10 December to end Violence Against Women and Girls. The Australian Government upholds gender equality and the elimination of violence against women at the core of its development agenda in Australia and through its overseas diplomatic work. Through our Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) program, Australia has supported more than 2,600 survivors of Gender-Based Violence through the provision of counselling, legal, social and [...]