Cambodia moves to develop its first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security
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Phnom Penh, Cambodia — To enhance understanding of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Cambodia and conduct an in-depth analysis to inform the development of the country’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP WPS), a workshop was convened in Phnom Penh on 18 December 2024. Organized by UN Women Cambodia, in partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), and with the support of the Governments of Canada, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, the workshop brought together 55 participants from various sectors, including Government, non-governmental organizations, academia and international organizations.
The workshop featured a panel discussion with representatives from the US and UK embassies, as well as UN Women.
Ryce Chanchai, UN Women’s ASEAN Governance and WPS Regional Programme Lead, emphasized that the WPS agenda extends beyond armed conflict: “Many issues, such as transnational crime, trafficking and climate-related risks, have been overlooked from a human security or Women, Peace and Security perspective, yet, they can significantly threaten regional stability.”
“Investing in the WPS agenda leads to better post-conflict outcomes, better national stability, and more resilient societies. Study after study show that this is an extremely effective area for policy intervention,” she added.
Chivyvatey Khieng, Policy Support Officer with the British Embassy, underscored the UK’s prioritization of the WPS agenda as a fundamental pillar of sustainable peace and security: “The WPS agenda is crucial for addressing and responding to the disproportionate impacts of conflicts on women and girls and for supporting the vital roles women play in conflict prevention and resolution. … Having dialogues with women’s organizations is paramount to tailoring support effectively and addressing their specific needs.”
Cambodia played an instrumental role in the development and adoption of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security (ASEAN RPA-WPS) in 2022.
“My colleagues at the regional level have commended Cambodia’s dynamic leadership in advancing the WPS agenda while serving as the ASEAN Chair,” said Kelly Geoghegan, Political Officer at the United States Embassy. “These accomplishments were born not only of Cambodia’s unique history and post-conflict development but also the commitment of the people in this room today.”
In December 2023, MoWA initiated a comprehensive situational analysis on WPS within Cambodia. Involving nearly 250 stakeholders, including government officials, non-governmental organizations, UN agencies and marginalized groups from Phnom Penh and three other provinces. The insights gathered from this analysis will be instrumental in determining the key priorities for the development of Cambodia's first NAP WPS.
“No one has it all figured out perfectly, whether it’s a developed or developing country,” noted Chanchai. “Advancing women’s roles in the security sector requires continuous learning effort, from addressing gender-based violence to promoting women’s leadership in conflict prevention, resolution and recovery to ensure that it works in diverse contexts.”
She added that with its strong regional leadership and commitment, Cambodia is well-positioned to drive transformative change, ensuring that women’s voices remain central to all peace and security efforts.