ObjectivesFund scope
Nearly 10% of Cambodians live with a disability and have difficulty performing basic functions. Their lives are compounded by discrimination and inequality in accessing legal, education, health, social protection, and transportation amenities, along with being more vulnerable to rights violations and various forms of violence. Women in Cambodia face similar struggles with rates of violence high enough it is the most prevalent rights abuse in the country. One in five women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner, and another 14% have been physically assaulted by someone other than a significant other. Equally worrying is the growing trend in perpetrators using technology and social media to sexually harass women and girls.
The scope of these two issues calls for multi-sector responses that modify and strengthen aspects of the legal, health, protection, and educational systems. It is why the Disability Inclusion and GBV Services Joint Programme collaborates closely with the Government of Cambodia’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs to improve the quality of essential health, shelter, psychosocial, and justice services across the country. The Joint Programme advances the capacities of government institutions, service providers, and civil society organizations in effectively implementing disability and gender-specific policies and investment strategies that are aligned with the National Disability Strategic Plan and National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women.
Strategic framework
By providing capacity development to service providers it improves institutional coordination and programming improves, and results in robust data collection and analysis, responsive policy design, and earmarked budgets for disability and GBV. More importantly, right-holders benefit from expanded services that are markedly improved in terms of quality and accessibility.
Additionally, the Joint Programme supports stakeholders in improving sexual and reproductive health facilities, and launching inclusive responses that improve first-line support, injury care, urgent medical treatment, and forensic examination practices. Programme outcomes are grouped under the areas of, 1) improving implementation of the National Disability Strategic Plan, 2) inclusive Commune Investment Plan roll-out, 3) the application of sustainable finance solutions that are disability inclusive, 4) strengthening health, legal, and psycho-social services to prevent and respond to GBV, and 5) bolstering multi-sector approaches to GBV prevention and response at national and provincial levels.