Several local NGOs and Network to highlight challenges of vulnerable women affected by C-19 on Monday

The Messenger Band (MB), Worker’s Information’ s Center (WIC), Women’ Network for Unity (WNU), Social Action for Community and Development (SACD), Focus on the Global South (Focus), and the Cambodian Grassroots Cross Sector Network of People’s Action for Development will organise the 111th International Women’s Day Celebration under the slogan “Shadow behind the Development” on Monday to raise challenges on vulnerable women affected Covid-19 in Cambodia.

Ms. Sen Chanthou, legal and advocacy of Women’s Network for Unity (WNU) one of the co-organizers told Khmer Times today that the main objective of the celebration is to present the situations, challenges, responses and intervention from stakeholders.

She said that it is also to amplify the demands and collective solutions for the vulnerable women in Cambodia.

“Covid-19 pandemic has provided negative impacts on many people, local economic, and public health. Like many other people who have experienced the impacts, sex and entertainment workers, garment factory workers, and small-scale farmers have also been exposed to it,” Chanthou added.

“One of the impacts was the sudden loss of income, livelihood destruction and increasing household debt,” she said.

She added that for many women who work in the entertainment sector, they’re experiencing food shortages and lost their daily and monthly income without prior notice or had received almost nothing as a compensation when there was the order to suspend this sector to prevent the transmission of the pandemic.

She said that small-scale famers could not sell their products and the price of their products dropped dramatically besides garment factory workers not protected.

As for the celebration, she said those expected to join are mostly women from various sectors including sex and entertainment workers, garment factory workers, small-scale farmers and food producers, youths, relevant ministries, and embassies.

“We hope to provide space where women’s challenges and problems are amplified not only by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond during the forum,” she said.

Chantou said the celebration will be held on Monday from 1pm to 4 pm at the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh.

There will be Khmer traditional music “Chapei Dangveng” and song performances.

Link: Khmer Times