March 26, 2024 – CARE Cambodia and partners have conducted an introductory workshop under the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services-Phase 2 (ACCESS II) program on Strengthening Inclusive Service for Indigenous People (ISISIP) project at Ratanak Kiri’s Provincial Hall. The project aims to increase the voice and participation of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors and persons with disabilities, strengthening subnational GBV and disability service provision, and ensuring policies respond to their needs.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Cambodia remains a concern. All forms of GBV affect severely on women, children, and vulnerable people. With the SISIP project CARE and partners focus on the challenges Indigenous communities and women with disabilities in Ratanak Kiri where the majority of the population belongs to one of the six ethnic minorities.
The ACCESS program is funded by DFAT and managed by Abt Associates. They enable CARE to continue the work done under ACCESS 1. The second phase of the ACCESS program is from 2023-2028 and aims to address the improvement of GBV and disability service provision at national and sub-national levels. The successful introductory workshop brought together the relevant provincial departments, Development Partners, such as UNICEF, CSO’s such as TPO and PAfID, and the two Indigenous organizations CARE collaborating with in Ratanak Kiri: CIPL and the Highlanders Association.
The SISIP project aims to improve the service quality, inclusiveness, and awareness of GBV and disability services among the communities. CARE Cambodia has adopted a twin-track approach to strengthen disability inclusion and aligns with the RESPECT framework outlining seven relevant strategic interventions including relationship skills strengthening, empowerment of women, services ensured, poverty reduced, environments made safe, child and adolescent abuse prevented, transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms.
