Phnom Penh: In its 25-year history, the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM) has never featured a forum for women, but Cambodia is hoping to change that. As hosts of ASEM13, Cambodia is set to request that the Women’s Forum be formally included as what’s known as an “accompanying event”. The Ministry of Women's Affairs has requested the approval of Prime Minister Hun Sen to gain support from ASEM member countries.

Secretary of State in the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Kheng Samvada, says the theme for this year’s Women’s Forum will be “Peace and Security". She says there’s a lot of work ahead to get the forum formally included as an ASEM13 event. "When we started with the European Union, we were told that we could not use the name of “accompanying forum” and that to do so, we would need the consent of the member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat. She says all 53 European countries have agreed that it will be an accompanying forum, “So why do we say it means so much? Because we are the pioneers of the Women's Forum at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)."

On the topic of "Peace and Security", she says, “Cambodian women have been through both war and peace since 1970, we want peace for us. Peace is priceless. If there is no peace, there is no development, so today, now we start, we raise the forum on women, security and peace.”

By holding an accompanying Women’s Forum, the Secretary of State hopes that Cambodian women will be able to show the world the work that has been done. She says, “Cambodia in 1993 was a poor country receiving UN assistance, but from then until now, especially since 1998, Cambodia has grown. Cambodia has now turned into a country that has sent its forces to other countries for many years to maintain peace, and at that time women also participated, as we have now sent a total of more than 7,000 people. Nearly 500 women have joined the UN peacekeeping force."

She says the Women’s Forum will provide an opportunity for women in Asia and Europe to meet, albeit online, but also as a starting point for building relationships between women in the two regions, which will discuss work on gender issues and the advancement of women and show people the invaluable importance of peace. "Through this forum, we will set an example for other young women to understand that when women get opportunities, when women work hard, women will have what women in other developed countries are enjoying. Cambodian women are now capable and participating in social work in all institutions, both national and sub-national."

The 13th Asia-Europe Summit, ASEM13, will be hosted virtually by Cambodia and will take place on 25-26 November 2021.