"NGOs draft petition to improve women’s rights", 5 March 2019

As International Women’s Day approaches, 12 organisations have finished drafting a petition calling on the government to continue to address challenges women are facing, including violence, inequality and poverty...

In a joint petition published ..., the organisations said the government must build community kindergartens and workplace nurseries, improve working conditions, strengthen mechanisms to protect domestic workers, and provide shelters for victims of violence...

“When women suffer domestic abuse, or female workers are subjected to violence from home-owners, the victims are likely unable to get away from the perpetrators,” it said. “They also do not have a safe shelter to protect them, which gives perpetrators opportunities to continue to harass, use violence and threaten victims.”

In addition, the petition called for the stopping of persecutions, sexual violence in the workplace, and violence against human rights defenders.

“We urge the government to continue to respond to women’s needs and eliminate all forms of violence against women, promote gender equality and [follow] the national strategic plans,” the petition said.

CCFC deputy general secretary Keo Chanra ... said the petition will be submitted to the Women’s Affairs, Labour, Interior, Justice and Foreign Affairs Ministries, along with other government institutions ... to mark the upcoming International Women’s Day...

Labour Ministry spokesman Heng Sour ... said it has always paid attention to the needs of women in the workplace and will continue to address challenges...