On 1-3 March 2023, the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) Program organised a staff retreat in Kep province. The purpose of the retreat was to review and reflect on the ACCESS Program and highlight lessons learned. It was also an opportunity to further build team spirit and close collaboration across the teams. During the retreat, staff members attended a number of pre-planned activities. Each activity was facilitated by committee members based on their pre-assigned roles and responsibilities. These [...]
National officers benefit from training on Gender Responsive Budgeting - 25 January 2023
“Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in Commune Investment Program” is an essential tool used to further strengthen the capacity of Cambodian stakeholders to address prevalence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and to promote social inclusion in a sustainable manner. Provided over two sessions, on 16-17 & 19-20 January 2023, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), with the support of the Australian Government through the ACCESS Program, organised a Training of Trainers (ToT) on “Gender Responsive Budgeting in the Commune Investment Program”. Participants [...]
The Annual Reflection Workshop on the progress of the multi-sectoral response by the GBV working groups - 18 January 2023
On 12-13 January 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 UNFPA, organised an annual reflection workshop on the progress of multi-sectoral gender-based violence (GBV) response working groups. The workshop was organised in the Kep province for 80 participants (65 of whom were female) from MoWA, the Provincial Department of Women’s Affairs (PDoWA) from eight provinces, Provincial and District Deputy Governors, the Council Committee [...]
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a human rights issue - 14 December 2022
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 [...]
28th Meeting of TWGG-GBV and Closing Ceremony of the 16-Days of Activism for Ending Violence Against Women Campaign - 13 December 2022
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 [...]
Celebrating the 24th National Day of Persons with Disabilities and the 40th International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 2 December 2022
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 [...]
Empowering survivors through vocational training - 30 November 2022
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 [...]
Australia helps survivors of domestic violence gain access legal services - 28 November 2022
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 [...]
UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls - 25 November 2022
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 [...]
Join Us To End Gender-Based Violence - 25 November 2022
This year’s theme is “UNITE! ACTIVISM TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS!” The Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) program staff joined together in support of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against Gender-Based Violence aimed to raise awareness, challenge discriminatory attitudes, and call for an end to violence against women in Cambodia and all over the world. The 16 Days campaign runs every year from 25 November to 10 December. The Australian Government, through the ACCESS Program and [...]