PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Honorary Vice President of the Cambodian National Council for Women, presided over a review meeting of the National Council at the Peace Palace on Monday morning. During the meeting he expressed his appreciation for the efforts of council members who have actively contributed to the building and development of society, adding that women are involved in many activities in various sectors including health, service, education and the military.

During the meeting, Lady Excellency Chou Bun Eng, the Representative of the Minister of Women's Affairs and President of the Cambodian National Council for Women, Ing Kantha Phavi, said that "Capacity development at the national and sub-national leadership levels, particularly capacity development for women leaders and female civil servants at the national level, was highly regarded by institutional leaders between 2020 to 2021, wherein 2,235 women out of a total of 3,871 participants attended seminars, training and skills-building courses both in the country and abroad.”

Lady Excellency Chou Bun Eng continued that at the level of the sub-national administration, the Ministry of Women's Affairs organized a program to develop the capacity of women’s affairs officers in conducting their work, seeking support, addressing gender mainstreaming and the environment, and addressing social ethics, leadership and inclusion at the municipal, district and commune level. She added that the Ministry conducted an online course to strengthen the role of women in leadership and the responsibilities of the Advisory Committee on Women and Children, with a total of 1,123 participants, in which 840 were women.

She further stated that the National Council of Cambodia for Women has coordinated the preparation of the progress report for 2020-2021 and the action plan for 2022, with input from ministries, institutions, authorities at all levels and recommendations from the Gender Technical Working Group, as well as approval from members of the Cambodian National Council for Women.

The 2020-2021 Performance Report identifies the progress, new challenges, and remaining issues that still need to be to worked on in the context of Covid-19, to rehabilitate and promote inclusive development by continuing to implement specific policy measures, programs and activities, with the overarching goal of promoting gender equality and empowerment of women for inclusive and sustainable development.

On behalf of the National Council for Women, Lady Excellency Chou Bun Eng expressed her deep gratitude to Prime Minister Hun Sen for giving high priority to promoting gender equality and the status of women in all fields and at all levels through the implementation of laws, policies and measures and national and sub-national mechanisms. She further thanked the Prime Minister for always providing full support, both in spirit and budget, to the activities of the National Council of Cambodia for Women to achieve proud progress under national peace.

Since 2006, the leadership of the Cambodian National Council for Women has held regular annual meetings under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Hun Sen. The meetings are held to monitor the activities and implementation of recommendations by the National Council, which contributes to the Royal Government’s ongoing work to promote rights, freedoms, and giving special roles and status to participate in the priorities of women’s affairs.

Please be informed that Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk is the Honorary President of the National Council of Cambodia for Women, while Prime Minister Hun Sen is the Honorary Vice President.