Consultation Workshop on the findings from the Situation Analysis on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in Cambodia for the development of a National Action Plan on WPS in Cambodia

In October 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSCR) endorsed the ground breaking resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), affirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building initiatives. The meaningful engagement of women in peace and security enhances the durability and quality of peace. Yet women’s participation in the peace and security sectors and processes is still very low.

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda refers to four pillars that encompass women’s participation at all levels of decision-making in the peace and security sphere: incorporate gender perspectives into conflict-prevention initiatives; protect the rights of women and girls; and ensure that gender considerations are integrated into relief and recovery efforts. The UNSCR 1325 and 9 subsequent resolutions, CEDAW and General Recommendation No. 30 on women, peace and security, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals offer a substantive framework to ensure gender equality becomes integral to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and accountability.

Cambodia has been one of the champion ASEAN Member States that has driven the localization of the WPS agenda in the ASEAN region. In November 2022, the ASEAN leaders adopted the first ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security (ASEAN RPA-WPS) which was launched on December 5^th, 2022, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs as a member of the ASEAN Committee on Women and Chair of ASEAN Advisory Group on WPS was instrumental in championing the development of the Localisation Toolkit and Guidelines for the ASEAN RPA-WPA, which was launched in December 2023 by ASEAN with the support of UN Women. 

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs with support from UN Women has conducted a Situation Analysis on the Women, Peace and Security in Cambodia, a key step in the development of a National Action Plan on WPS, from May to November 2024. Almost 250 participants from national government institutions, NGOs/CSOs, UN Agencies, Embassies, Academic/Research Institutions and sub-national authorities, women, youth and marginalized groups from Phnom Penh and three provinces, were consulted to gather inputs and views on key human security issues affecting women in Cambodia.

As part of the participatory process, a consultation workshop is being held with stakeholders to present, discuss and provide feedback on the preliminary findings from the Situation Analysis on WPS in Cambodia as part of the process to inform the next steps in the development of the National Action Plan on WPS in Cambodia.

Objectives

• Deepen the knowledge and engagement of relevant line Ministries and partners on the WPS Agenda and the importance of operationalizing it at country level.
• To present the preliminary findings from the Situation Analysis on WPS in Cambodia, gather feedback, and validate the findings, including alignment with national policies, ASEAN RPA-WPS, and addressing traditional, non-traditional and emerging security issues affecting women. This session will all seek input on women’s role in peace processes, conflict prevention and resolution, and lessons learned and good practices in mainstreaming gender in peace and conflict prevention within the Cambodian context
• To identify a possible coordination mechanism for the National Action Plan on WPS in Cambodia, including roles and responsibilities of stakeholders