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On the 27th February 2009, the Cambodian National Council for Women (CNCW) hosted a high level forum to enhance government knowledge of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The forum is in preparation for Cambodia’s combined 4th and 5th periodic report to the CEDAW Committee in November 2009.
The forum was lead by Ms Mary Shanthi Dairiam, an international CEDAW expert who served on the UN CEDAW Committee from January 2004 to December 2008. The CEDAW Committee, a Treaty Body composed of 23 experts on women's human rights issues from around the world, is responsible for watching over the progress made for women in those countries that are State parties to the Convention. Having ratified CEDAW in 1992, Cambodia is obliged to report to the Committee on national action taken to improve the situation of women every four years.
Approximately 70 people attended the forum, including Secretaries of State and participants from the Technical Working Groups on Gender in 25 Ministries, and staff of the Permanent Secretariat General of CNCW. The forum aimed to create a better understanding of CEDAW’s purpose among new members of the CNCW, update the government on the current situation of CEDAW implementation in Cambodia, and increase political commitment to the State Party report writing on CEDAW.
The mandate of CNCW is to coordinate with relevant Ministries to prepare the national report on CEDAW implementation for the Government of Cambodia, as well as observe and monitor the situation of women and provide recommendations. The report writing process for the 4th and 5th combined report began in September 2008 with a UNIFEM supported workshop for technical staff of Ministries. The Gender Mainstreaming Action Groups of Ministries have commenced data collection and drafting their respective sections of the national report.
The United Nations Development Fund for Women CEDAW Southeast Asia programme, through the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), has been working since 2004 to facilitate better implementation of CEDAW to advance women’s rights in Southeast Asia. The programmatic thrust in Cambodia relates to building the foundation for realising women’s human rights through CEDAW implementation and monitoring at the level of the state and civil society.
UNIFEM’s work focuses on building a core group of CEDAW experts and master trainers in state institutions and NGOs. Specifically, the programme provides technical support to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Cambodian National Council for Women and NGOs to implement the convention and monitor its implementation.
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International Expert Leads High Level Anti-
