Cambodia: Women's organizations in Cambodia, specifically "Women's Movement for Democracy" or "Women's Democracy Movement" and their involvement in demonstrations held in May and September 1997, February 1998 and April 1999

Information on a women's organization called "Women's Movement for Democracy" or "Women's Democracy Movement" (or a variation of these words) could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Lists of women's organizations compiled by Euronet, Human Rights Internet (HRI) and Women Waging Peace (WWP) did not include the aforementioned organization (Euronet 15 June 2000, HRI n.d., WWP n.d.). Organizations listed include: Cambodian Women's Voices Centre, Women's Media Centre of Cambodia (Euronet 15 June 2000, WWP n.d.) and Women for Prosperity (ibid.).

Women for Prosperity was established in 1994 to facilitate women's involvement in political leadership. The organization was developed by Mrs. Nanda Pok after she ran and lost a campaign for political office to teach women some of the lessons she learned in her campaign. The organization focuses on training and affecting policy.

Mission:

To empower women by informing them of their rights, promote truth and values by encouraging a culture of women, and to create an international network with their NGOs (ibid.).

According to a report by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as at December 1998 there were 18 women's organizations in Cambodia involved in the areas of economic development, social services and advocacy and democracy (Sept. 2000). However, according to this report,

For all their merit, actual and potential, women's organizations in Cambodia face many hurdles, both cultural and practical. Broadly speaking, no tradition exists in Cambodia for voluntary organizations. ....Often a section of political leaders and government officials feel threatened by the emergence of women's organizations; the officials are not supportive of them (ibid.).

Information on demonstrations staged by a women's organization ("Women's Movement for Democracy" or "Women for Prosperity") in May and September 1997, February 1998 and April 1999 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, the Human Rights Watch World Report 1998 provides the following information with respect to demonstrations in 1997:

In the first half of the year Cambodians frequently exercised their right to freedom of assembly, albeit in circumstances that were often tense and confrontational. The KNP [Khmer Neutral Party] organized dozens of mass rallies, with hundreds and sometimes thousands of people demonstrating against garment factory owners, the state visit of Burmese leader Than Shwe, the lack of an independent judiciary, and illegal logging. In addition, farmers calling for flood relief or settlement of land disputes and merchants protesting marketplace rent hikes staged more spontaneous rallies in front of the National Assembly or the Royal Palace, and newly formed labor unions not affiliated with the KNP organized spirited marches, rallies, and demonstrations as well.

....

The deadly March 30 grenade attack against an authorized demonstration led by Sam Rainsy was a clear violation of freedom of assembly. ... After the March grenade attack, Ministry of Interior officials said that they would most likely reject all requests for public demonstrations on a case-by-case basis for the time being, although the ministry never issued a written policy to that effect (1998).

Human Rights Watch also stated that demonstrations were held in Phnom Penh in September 1998 where two people were killed by government forces and eleven people disappeared (1999). Further,

Another twenty-four killings were reported in August and September, as part of an increase in killings that coincided with the government's crackdown on the demonstrations, although to date no causal relationship has been established. Dozens more protesters, including monks, women and students, were beaten or injured by gunfire from government security forces (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Euronet. 15 June 2000. "Global List of Women's Organisations - Women's Organisations, Cambodia." [Accessed 20 Sept. 2002]

Human Rights Internet (HRI). n.d. "Search." [Accessed 24Sept. 2002]

Human Rights Watch. 1999. Toxic Justice: Human Rights, Justice and Toxic Waste in Cambodia. [Accessed 23 Sept. 2002]

_____. 1998. Human Rights Watch World Report 1998. [Accessed 23 Sept. 2002]

United States Agency for International Development (USAID). September 2000. "Aftermath: Women and Women's Organizations in Postconflict Cambodia." [Accessed 20 Sept. 2002].

Women Waging Peace. n.d. "Cambodia: Women for Prosperity (WFP)." [Accessed 23 Sept. 2002]

_____. n.d. "Organizations Concerned with Women's Involvement in Peace Building Efforts: Regional and National Women's Organizations - Cambodia." [Accessed 23 Sept. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

BBC.

Independent Journalism Foundation.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

UNIFEM.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact Cambodian Women's Voices Centre by telephone.

WNC.

Search engine:

Google.