New program to end violence against women and promote disability inclusiveness in Cambodia
Cowater is implementing a new initiative in Cambodia titled, Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS). Funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, ACCESS is a three year (2018 – 2021), AUD$15 million program which aims to improve the sustainability, quality and inclusiveness of services for persons with disabilities and for women affected by gender-based violence.
One in five Cambodian women aged 15-64 reported having experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime while women with disabilities experience much higher levels of all forms of violence, according to a 2015 National Survey on Cambodian Women’s Health and Life Experiences. In addition, approximately 9.5 per cent of the Cambodian population over five years old reported some form of disability in a 2014 Demographic and Health Survey.
Women’s leadership, gender equality and disability inclusion are central to sustainable development, poverty reduction and economic growth. ACCESS is about working with the government of Cambodia, civil society and the private sector to advance the rights of women, girls and persons with disabilities. For more information on ACCESS, please visit the program website.
This new initiative reinforces Cowater’s presence in East Asia as an expert on gender equality and social inclusion and firmly establishes its position as one of DFAT’s top suppliers. Learn more about our other projects on gender in Asia here.
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