A group of 45 civil society organisations (CSOs) demanded that the government ratify four international labour conventions as proof of its commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
The demand was made in a joint statement issued on December 7, just as Cambodia began a 16-day campaign to end gender-based violence in 2021.
The statement said the four conventions they wish to see ratified are convention 183 on maternity protection, convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers, convention 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work, and convention 144 on tripartite consultation between the state, employees and workers
CSOs said cases of violence and sexual harassment against women and girls continue to occur on a daily basis both in the home, on the streets, in schools and in the workplace, undermining women’s fundamental freedoms.
“Often when a woman reports her case the authorities blame the victim for not filing a complaint immediately after the incident even when the statute of limitations has not yet expired,” the CSOs said.
They continued that in some cases the authorities intimidate the female victims into dropping the complaint by threatening to shame them with their families by divulging the woman’s story to them.
“We will consider [the request], but our laws and legal standards already cover these issues,” said Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training spokesman Heng Sour.
