1. Good Governance and Role of Women in Pursuing Good Governance Regional Conference on 25-27 October 2011, Mariam University, Quezon, Philippines Presented by Ms. Nhean Sochetra Director of Gender Equality Ministry of Women’s Affairs Kingdom of Cambodia

2. Human Development Index (HDI) and Gender Inequality Index (GII) HDI ranking: 124 th out of 169 GII ranking: 95 th out of 138 (Human Development Report 2010)

3. Overview 1. Definition and Elements 2. Role of Women in Governance 3. Leadership Challenges 4. Policies, Legal Framework 5. Way Forward

4. 1. Definition Governance is the system of values, policies and institutions by which a society manages its economic, political and social affairs through interactions within and among the state, civil society and private sector.

5. 1. Definition Defined by Royal Government of Cambodia: Governance is the way a state, an institution, or unit manage its economic, social and security affairs to serve the common interest of the people. RGC has shown a strong commitment to strengthen the rule of law and good governance through careful and gradual reform in the priority areas: administrative reform; anti-corruption; legal and judicial reform; armed force demobilization; Public Financial Management ; armed force reform; deconcentration and decentralization, improvement of the management reform…..

6. Elements: 1. Rule of Law 2. Independence of Judiciary 3. Inclusive and Participatory 4. Responsive 5. Effective and Efficient 6. Equitable 8. Sustainable: 9. Accountable: 10. Transparent

7. 2. Role of Women in governance “I stand for office with will, dignity and enthusiasm to do what people want and help them and support them, but I am a woman.”  “I wish I were a man and had power to make decisions and do something in response to my constituents needs as I am the one in the commune who travels a lot to the villages and people know me more, but then I cannot do anything for them.” -Commune Councilors

8. Rule of Law and Independence of Judiciary Many laws and legal framework available to protect women:  Cambodian Constitution 1993  Commune Election Law  Law on Administration and Management of Municipality, Province, Districts and Khan  Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims  Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation However, the implementation/law enforcement is limited.

9. Mandate and Year National AssemblySenate TotalWomenTotalWomen 19931207 (5.83%) 199812215 (12.29%) 1999619 (14.75%) 200312324 (19.51%) 2006619 (14.75%) 200812326 (21%) National Representative and Election

10. Members of the Royal Government of Cambodia Mandate / Year Deputy PMSinior MinisterMinister Secretery of State (vice minister) Under Secretery of State Tota l WomenTotalWomenTotalWomenTotalWomenTotalWomen 199310 (0%)601702002 1998272 (7.4%)503 (6%)1275 (3.93%) 2003151 (6.6%)282 (7.1%)1359 (6.6%)14611 (7.5%) 2008101 (10%)160262 (7.1%)19816 (8%)20533 (15.1%)

11. Sub-National Level (Local Level) Commune Councils Election Mandate and Year Member of CCsCommune ChiefFirst Deputy Chief Second Deputy Chief TotalWomenTotalWomenTotalWomenTotalWomen 200211,216 1,056 (9.4%) 1621 42 (2.6%) 1621 72 (4.4%) 1621 86 (5.3%) 200711,353 1,717 (15.1%) 1621 67 (4.1%) 1621 151 (9.3%) 1621131 (8%)

12. Mandate/ Year Capital and Provinces Councils Municipalities/District and Khan Councils TotalWomenTotalWomen 200937437 (9.89%)2,861363 (12.68%) Sub-National Level (Local Level) Capital, Provinces, Municipalities, District, and Khan Councils Election

13. Public Civil Servant (2007-2010) 2007200820092010 TotalWomenTotalWomenTotalWomenTotalWomen 176,344 57,114 (32%) 182,228 61,298 (34%) 184,961 61,946 (33%) 183,835 62,377 (34%)

14. 14 Cambodia MDG3: Promote gender equality and empower women Overall target 7: Eliminate gender disparities in public institutions  Increasing the proportion of seats held by women in the National Assembly from 12% in 2003 to 30% by 2015  Increasing the proportion of female ministers from 8% in 2003 to 15% by 2015  Increasing the proportion of female secretaries of state from 6% in 2003 to 18% by 2015 What we want to get?  Increasing the proportion of female provincial governors from 0% in 2003 to 10% by 2015  Increasing the proportion of seats held by women in commune councils from 8% in 2003 to 25%by 2015

15. 3. Leadership challenges

16. Challenges facing women in leadership and decision making Low influence  few female councilors and representatives  patriarchal biases  weak voice in allocation of funds Financial burden  allocation of household money for “office expenses”  getting poorer, esp local level Insufficient training  low levels of education  lack of support from parties for training Heavy work load  Still lack of support from family Weak women’s movement at grassroots level  Few female leaders at all levels

17. 4. Policies Framework

18. The Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency Capacity Building and Human Resource Development Private Sector Development and Employment Generation Further Rehabilitation and Construction of Physical Infrastructure Enhancement of Agricultural Sector Fighting Corruption Public Administration Reform Legal and Judicial Reform Fostering Gender Equity Armed Forces Reform Good Governance Partnership indevelopment Peace, political stability and social order Favorable macro- economic and financial environment Integration of Cambodia into the region and the world

19. The government considers women as the backbone of the society and economy.  Continue to increase women’s role and capacity in decision making at all levels of governance and pays attention to skills training for women at all levels.  Strive to increase the ratio of women at all government levels, by providing employment opportunities for women, using advocacy at village and commune levels throughout the country. The Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency

20. The National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP 2009-2013) has clear indicators:  Gender mainstreaming  Promotion of women participation in decision- making in public services and politic at all levels  Violence against women NSDP Update 2009-2013

21. … Strategic Area 5: Women in Public Decision-making and Politics Advocacy with political parties and relevant institutions Raising awareness of the public Building capacity and skills to female candidates and representatives at all levels Networking 21 5 Year Strategic Plan NR III: MOWA

22. 22 Local councils election laws… “The candidate list of each political party shall contain the name of candidates in sequential order and shall ensure women candidates in their candidate list in appropriate order….” Guidelines from SSCS the Royal Government of Cambodia has put in place affirmative action policies to strengthen gender equality and women empowerment in staff recruitment and promotion. One specific affirmative action is the regulation of 20-50% quota for employment of women in new recruitment to civil service positions. These 20-50% positions for women cannot be filled with men. Relevant Laws and regulations

23. 5. Way Forward : More women in leadership Invest in capacity development  Reduce the gender gap in education  Leadership and management skills  Micro skills related to their works Address socio-cultural barriers  social attitudes  Family Support  Self-confidence of women

24. Moving forward together