Women migrant workers and university students work together to shift stereotypes in Cambodia

Date: Monday, 27 April 2026

Authors: Charles Fox and Diego De La Rosa

Women migrant workers speak with students from PSE Film School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 28 March 2026. Photo: UN Women/Sophorn Lim

Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Misconceptions about women migrant workers remain widespread in Cambodia. These perceptions, often shaped by deeply rooted gender norms, can lead to stigma, discrimination and in some cases, violence. In a 2023 survey by UN Women Cambodia with 168 male university students in Phnom Penh, 50 per cent of respondents said they considered physical abuse against women migrant workers to be normal.

In response, UN Women Cambodia, under the PROTECT project funded by the European Union, developed a storytelling initiative that brought women migrant workers and men together to reflect on perceptions of migration, gender roles and violence.

As part of the initiative, male university students in Phnom Penh joined with women migrant workers from rural communities to co-create short documentary films based on the workers lived experiences. The films were shot in May 2025, and editing was completed during the first quarter of this year.

The collaborations exposed the students to perspectives they may not have otherwise encountered. The women guided how their stories were told and shared their experiences in their own words.

A community leader and former migrant worker who joined the project, Suon Sreymom, said: "The videos capture the challenges faced by women migrant workers and what we truly need, rather than placing blame on our migration journeys. Often, people blame women migrant workers for being undocumented, but these videos show the reality instead of blaming. I think positive changes start from now.”

Watch the films:

The Heroism of Migrant Women

Invisible Risk

The films premiered on 28 March in Phnom Penh, marking International Women’s Month. It was followed by a public discussion among members of women migrant workers groups, students, and representatives from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, civil society and development aid partners.

Mean Ponlork, 24, a student from PSE Film School who with women migrant workers made short documentary films on the workers experiences under a UN Women project, is shown in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 28 March 2026. Photo: UN Women/Sophorn Lim

Among the students who had his assumptions challenged was Mean Ponlork, 24, from PSE Film School in Phnom Penh.

“I was quite surprised by some of the stereotypes held by young men about gender roles, and the limited awareness of women’s rights,” he said. “Through the videos, I hope to inspire young men to look past stereotypes and see the bravery and resilience of women migrant workers.”

“What I have learned is that young men have a crucial role in changing mindsets to support and protect women,” said Ponlork. “We need much more education on this.”

“I want to use my content creation and filmmaking skills to raise awareness about social issues, particularly those related to gender and women’s rights,” said Vorm Sotha, a fellow student who also took part in the project. “Learning from them directly was an invaluable experience, as it made our videos more authentic and grounded in reality.”

Cambodia is a major labour-sending country. Many people with limited livelihood opportunities in rural areas migrate to neighboring countries, and a significant share of them are women. These women face risks including limited access to reliable information and services, exploitation and gender-based violence, unsafe recruitment practices, and challenges upon return such as debt and reintegration.

"Bringing together women migrant workers and young men in dialogue is one of the ways we are working to shift perceptions and support women's leadership," said Sophea Khun, Country Programme Coordinator at UN Women Cambodia.