The Cambodian Women's Crisis Center (CWCC), a national NGO based in Phnom Penh, was founded in 1997 with the objective of providing assistance services to victims of gender-based abuse and their children, and ultimately ending all forms of violence against women (VAW). With the support of the UNIFEM VAW Trust Fund, they are coordinating a one-year project (November 1998-November 1999) emphazising the prevention of violence at the community level.

The project's objectives are to create a better understanding of the issue of violence in the community and to provide tools to combat violence.   The project will act through community education and community organizing and will have three main components: general village education and organisation; the training of village educators (2 per village), and; the training of community police on laws related to VAW.

A pilot project commenced on 1st November 1998 in eighteen villages around Phnom Penh with the aim of sensitising communities and the authorities about violence against women (VAW). The project involves community workshops on the issue of VAW, the relevant laws and the role of local authorities. Communities have been encouraged to provide assistance when incidents of violence occurred, establish support networks for women and their families and monitor the incidence of violence against women. The workshops have targeted women and men, as well as village leaders and the local police.

Two staff members were hired under the project, a woman defence lawyer with six years of experience on

CWCC's child care centre for the children of abused women.

women’s rights and a male law school graduate with experience in legal research, working with law enforcement officers and work on sex trafficking. A community educator from the Philippines serves as an adviser.

Since November 1998 the team have gathered documents on violence against women, the relevant laws and regulations and the services available to women in areas such as health care, shelter, credit and vocational training. With technical assistance from the adviser, three publications have been prepared and used in the training: a set of reading materials on the issue of violence against women; a manual for working with the police and local authorities; and a directory of NGOs offering health care and shelter services for women. Booklets have been produced on sex trafficking, domestic violence and rape. These are being printed for distribution in the communities.

Her Excellency Mu Sochua, Minister for Women's and Veterans' Affairs with UNIFEM's Evelyn Sundaravej

Local authorities have been extremely cooperative and assisted in identifying participants for the workshops. To April 1999, four workshops have been conducted for 123 participants in four villages. The format of the workshops has varied according to local needs, sometimes running over three days. However, most were spread over six days and held only in the morning or afternoon to fit with the work pattern of the participants. Following the workshops, some of the male participants explained that they were not previously aware of the existence of laws to protect women or of women’s rights. A woman participant from Stung Chay also spoke proudly of her new knowledge that “... we women have laws protecting us. Men are not allowed to beat us and if they do they will face criminal charges.”

After the training, many women victims of violence visited the Crisis Centre to seek shelter, counselling and legal assistance. The Director of the CWCC related the tale of one couple: the wife, after suffering violence over a long period, sought shelter at the Centre and left her husband. Some months later, he turned up at the Centre begging her to return as he missed her very much and promised that he would not beat her again. After counselling and consultations with staff, the wife agreed to return. The CWCC staff accompanied the couple back to their village, informed the village authorities and community of the situation and the husband’s promise. They agreed to monitor his behaviour and to report any problems to the Centre. It seems that the man is now a model husband and no further difficulties have been reported.

When the pilot project has been completed CWCC will share the innovative curriculum and materials that are developed, thus extending the project's impact beyond the 18 pilot villages.

Dated: 22 July 1999