Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia

Case Study:
Young Women Political
Representation and
Participation in Local
Governance in Cambodia
by Mehrak Mehrvar
Produced by Supported by
The case study was and commissioned and produced by the Committee to Promote Women
in Politics (CPWP). Good governance is about the equal participation of all citizens - men
and women, young and old - in public and political life. Equality between men and women
constitutes an indicator of success in good governance. To this end, CPWP identies the
promotion of young womens political participation in local governance in Cambodia to be an
action priority, contributing in to the successful implementation of democratic development
and good governance reforms.
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
Case Study:
Young Women Political
Representation and
Participation in Local
Governance in Cambodia
by Mehrak Mehrvar
March 2013
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments 2
1. Introduction 3
2. Methodology& Scope 4
3. Case Study &Voices of Young Cambodian Women 5
3.1. What is politics? 5
3.2. Reasons for Withholding: Why Not Politics? 7
3.3. Social & Cultural Prevalence 8
3.4. Personal Realities & Questions 9
3.5. Migration 12
3.6. Institutional structure & Political systems 14
4. Positive Trends and Opportunities 15
5. Recommendations 19
I
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
Acknowledgments
We must begin by expressing our appreciation to the young women who sat with us and shared
their voices, concerns, and dreams. We admire their courage and passion, and are indebted to them
for their openness and time. Our special thanks go to the community members and commune
councilors in the Thmor Poun and Kean Chrey communes in Kampong Cham Province who
openly and generously participated in the study and shared their insights.
We are grateful to the joint European program for Strengthening Performance, Accountability
and Civic Engagement of Democratic Councils in Cambodia (EU SPACE)
1
for sponsoring and
supporting the study and providing valuable inputs.
We are equally appreciative of the cooperation and assistance extended to us by the Cambodian
Young Women Empowerment Network (CYWEN) and JASS South East Asia. The discussions
with Sophoan Chan, the Chair of CYWEN, and Kunthea Chan, JASS Regional Program
Coordinator, helped us in drafting the design of the study, and with translating the interviews,
organizing the interviews, and arranging the logistics for the feldwork.
We extend our gratitude to Thida Khus and Ros Sopheap, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee
to Promote Women in Politics (CPWP) for guiding and shaping the analysis of the fndings.
We are also tremendously thankful to all individuals and organizations that kindly provided
guidance and relevant information.
1 EU SPACE is co-funded by Sweden (Sida), the United Kingdom (DFID), Germany (BMZ), and the EU Delegation and implemented
by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), within the framework of the decentralisation component
of the wider Support to Administrative Reform and Decentralisation Program (ARDP). EU SPACE is supporting the Royal
Government and important stakeholders, such as civil society organisations, in implementing the National Programme for Sub-
National Democratic Development.
II
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
Introduction
I
n Cambodia today, in conversations we have with various stakeholders, one question is
invariably raised: what about young womens greater representation and participation in
politics and decision-making processes? Young women in Cambodia represent half of the 33
percent of the countrys youth population (those between 15 and 30 years of age).
2
But while
there have been some initiatives to achieve greater representation and participation of young
women in politics and decision-making, these have mostly fallen short of their goals.
There is consensus among young Cambodian women on the importance of becoming involved
in politics. They respond positively to the notion of a balanced leadership that includes more
women and young people. They acknowledge that it is diffcult for women as well as young
people to break into politics in Cambodia, but also believe that politics would be better if all voices
were heard. They believe inherently that women can bring new perspectives to solving problems,
and are interested in what younger candidates might have to offer. They hold the opinion that
their energy, creativity, solidarity and commitment, and their contributions as farmers, students,
factory workers, community organizers, strategists, advocates, civil servants, entrepreneurs, and
employees in many other lines of work can spark fresh visions for change, resulting in further
representation and participation of young women in politics and decision-making processes.
At the same time, they explain their lack of interest in politics with reasons that have to do with
a perception that politics is irrelevant to their concerns and with feelings of alienation from an
arena dominated by an older generation that appears to many young women as unapproachable
and hierarchical. They see politics as an all-male club and as something unknown and unsafe.
In addition, a general lack of civic education, lack access to information, and absence of
encouragement from their families have fostered an environment that is not conducive to young
women taking an active part in politics.
These factors are exacerbated by low levels of education in Cambodia. According to data from
the Ministry of Womens Affairs, only 40 percent of women aged 25 to 44 are illiterate, compared
to 25 percent of men in the same age group.
3

Furthermore, for many young Cambodian women, politics and real life exist on parallel planes
that are divorced from each other. They worry about making ends meet. Their focus is on the
responsibilities they face in caring for their families. They recognize the need to achieve fnancial
2 Youth Resource Development Programme: Cambodian Youth Situational Analysis Report (2012).
3 Ministry of Womens Affairs: A Fair Share for Women: Cambodia Gender Assessment (2008).
1
1
stability, to support their families, to obtain the skills and education to get a job, and to migrate.
While they are trying to fnd solutions to these challenges, few of them consider politics and,
particularly, local politics, as intimately connected with their deep concerns.
Young Cambodian women are absent from the countrys National Assembly and Senate. As for
representation in local governance, or commune councils, young women (ages 2535) were
elected to 281 (2.5%) seats out of 11,450 in the 2012 elections.
4
Moreover, they were elected to
only (1%) of commune council chief positions 8 seats out of 1,633.
5
This case study explores the reasons for young womens limited engagement in local governance
in Cambodia. It acknowledges that young women develop their perceptions about participating in
politics from experiences they have as young girls and from growing up in a society characterized
by gender inequalities. The study depicts the voices, experiences, and life stories of young
Cambodian women. It illustrates their concerns, issues, inspirations, dreams, and hopes. It looks
at possibilities, opportunities, and entry points for their greater engagement in local politics. It
presents refection and analysis. Hence, it serves as a starting point for further discussion and
action to move forward, contributing to the successful implementation of local democratic
development and good governance reforms in Cambodia.
4 Committee to Promote Women in Politics (CPWP): Fact Sheets-Commune Council Election (2012).
5 Ibid.
2
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
Methodology & Scope
T
he case study was based on qualitative analysis of conversational interviews, focus group
discussions, and a review of the related literature. The study sample is small and makes no
claims to be representative of the entire population of young women. Nevertheless we feel it
provides insights about the perceptions that young Cambodian women hold about the space for
political participation.
The conversational interview was adopted as a technique to assist the young women in becoming
engaged with the subject of local politics and leadership on their own terms. This conversational
format was used to elicit dialogue in a more equal two-way process, with the interviewer and the
interviewees interacting in an in-depth conversation. A total of 6 conversational interviews have
been included in this study. The interviewees were selected using the snowballing method, which
looked at relevant characteristics such as age (2535), education (secondary school; university
graduate), and differences in work background. Each of the young women interviewed was
treated as a separate case study, but as similar trends in their experiences could be draw out, the
cases were analyzed together.
The interviews were complemented with fndings from 4 focus group discussions that were
carried out in Phnom Penh with 28 young women and 6 men. The focus groups included separate
discussions with factory workers, high school students (grades 1012), university students
(female and male- age: 1923), and members of the Cambodia Young Women Empowerment
Network (CYWEN).
An additional 2 focus group discussions were held with 25 participants (female and male) in the
Thmor Poun and Kean Chrey communes in Kampong Cham Province. Participants comprised
commune memberswomen, men, and young peopleand a number of female and male
commune councilors. The selection criteria for the province were based on Kampong Chams
rank as the second-most populated province in the country and the distribution of its youth
population.
6
The case study places a deliberate focus on local politics in Cambodia, primarily exploring young
womens representation and participation in commune councils.
6 National Institute of Statistics: General Population Census of Cambodia (2008).
2
3
4
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
33
Case Study & Voices of Young Cambodian Women
A
ll conversations and discussions began with the question: What comes to mind when you
hear the word politics? There were broadly three types of responses to the question. The
frst was a rather vague blankness, particularly from the youngest participants (1418). They
claimed that the word politics brought nothing to mind. They were unable to expand on this
view, largely due to a lack of awareness and limited interest and knowledge.
A second type of response was to associate politics with prominent political parties in Cambodia
and elections. In addition, politicians, commune councils, the national assembly, unions, and the
government were mentioned. Furthermore, older participants (2035) within the two groups, i.e.,
factory workers and those with a higher level of education, felt that politics involved discussions
about laws, resources, the national minimum wage, employment, land, and services.
The third response, and a much more common one, was expressed in the perceptions of participants
of different groups and ages on politics in a broader sense, in which they related politics with
money, power, particular groups (men), control, lies, corruption, and special interests. In most
instances, they associated politics with the national level and as something distant from their own
realities.
3.1 What is politics?
I do not like it, and nothing comes to my mind
16-year-old high school student
I am not an educated person, but when I hear the word politics, I think of: my salary
scale, voting, and elections, the Ministry of Womens Affairs, the radio, land, and a
female commune councilor in my village
25-year-old garment factory worker
3
When I think of politics, these words come to my mind: money, lies, dangerous,
connections, political parties, hierarchy, men, and the older generation. I dont really
care about it all that muchI feel there is no space in it for me as a young woman
But I do vote, and I feel respect for my commune chief, who is a woman. This is all I
know about politics. I do not have any clue as to how I can obtain information about
each political party. Which door can I knock on to ask questions about their policies?
Who I can talk with? I am talking here about making an informed decision without fear
or without being judged. Young people are expected to vote for the political party that
their family supports
32-year-old CYWEN member
5
3.2. Reasons for Withholding: Why Not Politics?
In general, women in all three categories of responses held the view that politics is of interest to
older, rather than younger people. Older was defned as parents and grandparents.
As depicted in the discussions, young Cambodian women have a broad mistrust of politics,
feeling that political parties do not address their interests and that they are powerless in relation
to the political system. Some young women simply believe that even if youth become members of
political parties or engage with commune councils, they cannot see themselves playing important
roles. Having said that, the point resonated with some young womenin particular members of
CYWENthat without a belief that the political system and its institutions, such as common
councils, belong to them too, those on the outside will remain merely outsiders. This group of
young women wanted to discuss strategies for empowerment and change. Their discussions did
not call for electoral or representative reform or on strategies about how to become better voters
or get elected. Rather their discussions surrounding empowerment were framed in broader terms.
These young women wanted to make a space for their voices to be heard in both the private and
the public spheres. They mentioned words such as confdence, friendship, choice, hope, safe,
change, and the power of asking WHY.
Overall, the combined optimistic and pessimistic voices of participants point to an inadequacy of
traditional democratic arrangements of political institutions in Cambodia for its young population.
T
he interviews and group discussions revealed a wide spectrum of opinion, contradictions, and
experience. That being said there was substantial overlap among the participants statements
regardless of age, personal realities, geographical location, and educational level.
It is important to share with readers that as we listened to and refected on young womens
concerns and realities, we found that there is, indeed, evidence to suggest that young women in
Cambodia are not entirely disconnected from political activities in their community. However,
it seems that because of their rather narrow conception of politics and also its negative image,
they are sometimes reluctant to perceive their action and engagement with their community as
political activity.
In general, discussions indicated that factors that determine political engagement and
representation of young women in commune councils are linked to social constructions and
traditional expectations of women, men, and youth; socio-economic background; social capital;
and education and civic knowledge.
The following subjects emerged as challenges that hinder young womens representation and
participation primarily in commune councils. (The order does not indicate ranking.)

6
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
P
articipants highlighted that Cambodia still assigns a higher public status to men and
prescribes for women a greater value in the private sphere, expecting them walk quietly in
the public sphere. Some refected that, because women are bound to such traditional norms and
social constructions, men still have more privileges in the areas of decision-making, education,
and freedom of movement. Almost all the young women talked about the division of labor in
a typical Cambodian household, where women are largely left with domestic and child-raising
responsibilities. They commented that such gender roles place a hurdle in front of young
women, in particular those that might want to step into positions that might compromise those
responsibilities.
These comments reference the cultural context in which gender roles and responsibilities for
women and men are defned. Politics is viewed as a domain of men, while women are considered
to be of lower status and deemed to be less suitable to play a prominent role in public decision-
making. It confrms, too, that representations of gender and age play a powerful role in shaping
the discourse of access to political institutions, social capital, fnances, information, and skills.
Therefore, young women are hesitant to enter politics.

I do not remember anyone ever telling me that I could be a leaderbut I have all
those voices in my head, talking about my role as a good daughter and wife.
30-year-old factory worker
3.3. Social & Cultural Prevalence
I have two small kids, and I am responsible
for the housework. I also work as a seller in the
market. Sometimes I think that one day I may
stand as a candidate to become a commune
councilor, but in a far away future. I see the
two women in my commune council as my role
models, but I feel they can do it, as their kids are
grown up
32-year-old fruit seller
Cambodian families expect for their sons to attain public status or high positions,
and not for their daughters to do this. I am refecting on my own experience, which
my mom often reminds me of, that I should be modest and not aim for a position that
may place me at a higher status than my husband. Put simply she wants him to
shine, not me. This is not an isolated experience, but a common one among those of
us with successful professional careers. We talk about it, we laugh about it, and we
are working on it to change our families perceptionsI am positive that change will
happen, but It may take timeas for myself, I will make sure that my daughter will
shine
30-year-old CYWEN member
7
Further, they highlighted that the poor Cambodian families are still more likely to educate their
sons than their daughters. Education participation rates in Cambodia continue to be very low
only 33 percent of school-aged girls are enrolled at lower secondary school level and 11 percent
at upper secondary school level. There are more males than females at all levels of education, and
this gap widens as education levels increase.
7

Overall participants expressed frustration that although women are nominally guaranteed equal
rights with men in the Cambodian constitution, the ability to claim these rights is still subject
to prevailing social ideals and attitudes about power and gender relations. They indicated that
despite legal and policy provisions, Cambodian women do not still enjoy the same status as men
at any level in society: they are less educated, less visible and occupy few senior and decision-
making positions in politics.
Some participants, however, specifed that this mode of thinking and this cultural context
are shifting in present-day Cambodia. They emphasized that only a few years ago it was still
customary to hear an expression such as Women belong near the kitchen stove, but nowadays,
especially among the younger generation, things are changing.
Y
oung women talked about food, debt, high transportation costs, rent, health care, stress,
marriage, and education. They spoke about infation. They talked about foods during the
growing season and losses of crops. They talked about the nightmare of losing their lands. They
talked about their long working hours during the day, and their restless nights trying to learn
new skills and languages in order to fnd better jobs. They talked about being a central source
of income for their families. They talked about hope and the future. They talked about money
and the salary scale for different occupations, including commune council positions and the cost
associated political campaigning.
They talked about their personal realities and concerns, in particular those related to their
economic situation and empowerment. They expressed that these realities constrain their personal
ability and choices about getting involved in local politics regardless of their level of interest or
consideration of any other factors. They stated that they are not sure how these concerns might
be related with local politics and commune councils, but they felt that it is important to be noted.
They specifcally then talked about income and potential fnancial costs that are interlinked to
their representation in local politics.
7 Asia Foundation Cambodia: Equal Access to Education for Women in Rural Cambodia (2011).
3.4. Personal Realities & Questions
8
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
Participants in almost all interviews and discussions stated that the low salary of commune
councilors is one of the impediments to the greater representation of young women in local
politics. The monthly allowance paid to commune councilors is $17.50 for members, $20 for
deputies, and $25 for a chief. A clerk employed by the Ministry of Interior is paid $31.75, while
the commune gender focal person receives a supplement of $12.50.
8
Young women with higher education and a professional career with a higher income acknowledged
the above statements, adding that they also do not see local politics, particularly a seat at the
commune council, as a feasible career choice. They stated that they would prefer to focus on their
professional careers, which offer a steady income, and only engage with local politics and serve
society through volunteer community work. They do not see themselves as having the ability to
My parents are farmers, and they worked so hard to send me to school. I will
break their heart if I join local politics and become a commune council member.
They want me to have a good job in the city with a good salary and to live safelyI
heard that a monthly salary for a commune council member is only $20.
20-year-old university student
8 CDRI: Leadership in Local Politics of Cambodia: A Study of Leaders in Three Communes of Three Provinces (2009).
I am the owner of small car repair
shop in Phnom Penh. I have 3 staff,
all men, whom I supervise, including
a chief mechanicI am single, and
I am responsible for taking care of
my mother and brother in Kampong
Cham Province. I send home $70 per
month, and recently I bought for my
mom a small parcel of rice land
My dad passed away in 1997 when I was 16, and since then I have been the
breadwinner of the family. I worked in a car repair shop for 10 years until the
place went bankrupt. My boss could not pay my salary, and he offered me some
of the mechanical tools. And that is how I started my own business in 2010. I
listen to the radio and think a lot about change and the future. I can imagine
myself as a commune councilor, but I stop thinking that thought immediately, as
I need to earn income for my mother and myself. I cant close the garage, move
back to the village, spend money, and hope to be a candidate We need to eat,
pay for rent and medical bills, andI think then politics is not for the poor and
young women like me who need to support their families. It is simple, we cant
afford it.
32-year-oldowner of a car repair shop
9
I am listening to this conversation, and
I am wondering, How would young
educated men react to this question? I am
not sure about their interests in positions
in commune councils, but I feel, it is
now common in Cambodia for educated
and professional men to have ambitions
for positions with the government at the
sub-national level no matter how low
the salary is or what it takes. My brother
has already joined a youth wing of the
party and is aiming for a job with the
government or a seat at the district or provincial councils. He knows that in
order to climb the ranks, he must start with local politics and pay his dues
by working in the countryside. But as for young and educated women, it is a
different story. We have been encouraged by our families to establish a business
or have a job with a prestigious organization and support our husbands
political aims. So I would like us to refect again on this againwhat does it
mean that we, young and educated women, are not ready for the challenge?
30-year-old business owner
challenge the social and political system. Nevertheless, a few also took issue with this perspective
and raised the question: How is the same scenario different for young men, in particular when it
comes to engaging with local politics via district and provincial councils?
In discussing money, participants also identifed fnancial costs that might be associated with
engagement in local politics as another element that hindered them. They observed that running
as a commune council candidate means spending money. They pointed out that young womens
fear or their lack of access to fnancial resources for campaign purposes greatly limits their choices
and the scope of their engagement with local politics.
These young womens refections on the realities of their lives and their everyday concerns
confrm that human capacities are dependent on the availability of resources such as education
and employment that build an individuals capabilities and enlarges her choices as a human
being. Access to employment, fnancial resources and economic empowerment is directly linked
with young womens ability to create a space for themselves in politics and development. Their
words suggest the extent to which their perceptions and choices about political representation and
participation are bound with their economic status.
I am also not sure how my husband and my family would support me if I wanted to
join. It would mean I would need to spend money.
26-year-old factory worker
10
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
W
e decided to include a separate heading for migration in the design of the outline - even
if the subject was already discussed as part of the topic of personal realities. Migration
overwhelmingly dominated the discussions with all groups. However, in talking with factory
workers in Phnom Penh and community members from 2 communes in Kampong Cham
Province, the young women elaborated extensively on the topic and its relevance to their political
engagement with commune councils. Out of 14 community members from Thmor-Poun commune
who participated in the study, 6 reported that their daughters had migrated for work. In Kean
Chery commune, 4 out of 10 confrmed a similar situation.
Since the late 1990s, a growing number of young adults in rural Cambodia have migrated to
cities to take up jobs created as a result of the countrys opening up to a free-market economy
and its subsequent high economic growth. Presently, 500,000 workers are employed in garment
factories, and of these, more than 80% are young women. There is a strong industry preference
for employing young women, because of their work ethic and the high quality of their work
as sewing machine operators, who form the bulk of assembly line workers. Young Cambodian
womens decision to migrate is usually a matter of economic necessity rather than individual
choice. They regularly send money home to keep their families out of poverty.
10

3.5. Migration
I moved to Phnom Penh and started
working in a garment factory almost 11
years ago. I live in a small rented room
with a friend. I work 10 hours a day,
and I earn $140 a month. I dropped out
of school at grade 9. I understand what
politics is. I am aware of my power as a
voter and my rights as a citizen. I listen
to the radio, and I understand what the
commune council is about. But I am absent from my commune and far from my
daughter. I need to work and help my family.
29-year-old factory worker
10 CDRI: Youth Migration and Urbanization in Cambodia (2007).
11
This view, which emphasizes the importance of women supporting their families, was echoed
both by young women and those of the older generation.
It should be stated that 10 female factory workers who participated in the study were extremely
articulate about the concepts of politics, gender, the role and function of commune councils,
issues in their communities, and strategies for resolving such issues.
The remarks of these women speak to the realities and contradictions in their lives. On the
one hand, due to their work with unions and their exposure to information, they are quite
knowledgeable about the workings of their society. On the other hand, their physical absence
from their communities and their lack of freedom to choose whether or not to migrate to earn
money leave them no room for engaging with politics. Most of them simply do not see it as an
option for themselves, at least not at the present time. But the chances are, they will do this one
day in the future, as they are active with unions.

Half of the young women, at ages
1827, left my commune to work in the
garment factories in urban cities. Young
women in my village and commune also
are leaving to go to Thailand to work in
fsh-processing factories. I can name all
my childhood friends who have already
left the village. Factories prefer to hire
young women, so we drop out of school,
leave home, and work to support our families. I myself migrated to Phnom Penh
one year ago, following my sister. I am married, and I have a 5-year-old daughter
who lives with my husband in the village. I work 11 hours a day, including
overtime, and I earn $120 per month. Young women are not living in their
villages or communes anymore. I visit my home four times a year. We can stay
in our village and think about community work, the commune council, or local
politics. But who will then feed my child?
25-year-old garment factory worker
My sister left for Malaysia to work as a maid, my daughter works in a garment
factory in Phnom Penh, and my son works in Thailand in a fsh processing factory.
I am here with my husband, and we are taking care of their childrenthis is our
reality. I understand that it would be safer for my daughter or sister to live here
even if they participated in politics, but we cant do itWe are so poor
57-year-old female commune member
12
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
3.6. Institutional structure & Political systems
P
olitical parties determine the lists of candidates for elections and the rank ordering of
candidates. If a party so desires, it is relatively easy to ensure a diverse and representative
list of candidates, including young people, women, and minority groups. Therefore, attention to
womens political participation needs to concern itself with political parties structures, policies,
and processes (related to decision making, elaboration of policies, selection of candidates,
disciplinary processes, etc.).
In most cases, the young women who were interviewed could not see any conceivable way for
them to approach any of the prominent political parties in Cambodia in order to obtain information
that would help them understand the system and discuss the possibility of their running as a
candidate. They repeatedly emphasized their feelings of powerlessness, as well as their frustration
at having doors closed to them, doors that are open to those who were older or who possessed
inside connections.
Even when young people acknowledged some potential channels of communication with political
parties, either through conventional methods, such as going to their offces, or less conventional
methods, such as talking with their female commune councilors, they felt that they lacked
knowledge about the process of engagement. Underpinning this situation was the perception that
politics is a complex, patriarchal, and alien subject, which they fnd hard to approach.

But I am not sure how I can
do it [get involved in politics].
Political parties are not providing
us with clear information and simple
instructions on what the channels
are for young people to obtain more
information about a party and its
platform, policies, and the youth/
womens movement. How can I join
them or approach/contact them?
What is the requirement to stand as a
candidate? I feel also, it would be so
strange if you just go to their offce
and ask for information. I am personally in the dark and do not want to walk in the
dark. What I mean is, politics is a dark tunnel for me, and I need some lights before I
can join.
25-year-old university student
13
The above viewechoed by most of the participantswas strongly argued by 2 young women
members of two prominent political parties, who then explained their parties actions and policy
platforms.
The results of the 2012 commune council election placed the CPP ahead of other political parties
in the total number of elected young women (ages 2535). The composition includes 7 young
women as commune council chief. A total of 12 women hold the position of frst deputy chief; 19
were elected as second deputy chief; and 197 women were chosen as commune council members.
As for the Sam Rainsy Party, 1 woman was elected as commune chief, 3 were elected as frst
deputy, and 19 as second deputy. A total of 30 women are elected as commune council members.
Overall, participants concluded that the present structure and culture of Cambodian political
parties does not welcome young women.

I disagree with what has been discussed heremaybe this is the case for people
in Phnom Penh I am talking only of my own experience as a young member of
a political party. The Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) has been very active in
recruiting young people in villages across my commune in the last year. We do now
have youth committees/networks for each village and commune. The party has
provided all new members with training on subjects such as community mobilization,
public speaking, and gender. I have been working with my commune council in the
last few months, helping with the drafting of a commune plan document. I want also
to add that 60% of youth members in my commune are women, ages 1627. We are
preparing ourselves for the 2017 commune council election. I have so far had a very
good experience and feel the party intentionally is focusing more on recruiting and
working with young women.
19-year-old CYWEN member
14
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
Positive Trends & Opportunities 4
T
his fnal section of the case study draws together some of the key themes raised throughout
the discussion with the young Cambodian women, by exploring their dreams and hopes as
well identifying positive trends and opportunities that might infuence greater representation and
participation of women in local politics. The conversation started with a refection on the womens
personal lives. The women talked about education, freedom, love, and friendship. They spoke
about the Internet, Facebook, mobile phones, SMS, and Korean TV dramas. They considered
how to hold onto their dreams.
They then connected the personal to the public, and discussed positive trends and changes for
women, and the implications of this for their greater engagement with local politics. They affrmed
that the introduction of decentralization reforms through commune council elections in 2002 have
had a positive effect, because they can see womens access to and presence in the public sphere
and that the number of women who actively participate in politics in Cambodia is increasing.
They characterized the representation of women commune councilors as portraying a different
style of political leadership in the community and villages a female-model, emphasizing
consensus and compassion rather than aggression and competition. They pointed out that women
become active in commune councils because they are concerned with their communities and the
possibility of using politics for change.
We have better education compared with our mothers; we work outside the kitchen;
we have access to information, the Internet, Facebook, mobile phones, and SMS. We
have CYWEN (a membership-based network for young women [100 members], and
we have more decision-making power both in our own family and in our community
compared with our mothers. I also see the effect of Korean TV dramas in our society,
and I am amazed by it. It is like a storm, and people watch and follow it. They portray
women in positions of power, like police or candidates to be the president or the prime
minster of a country or a mayor of a city, and their challenges in trying to reach such
goals. We can relate to them, as their challenges are not much different from ours
back here.
30-year-old CYWEN member
15
In 2002 (10 years ago), who could have even imagined that in 2012, 18% of CC
members would be women? This will be the story for young women too. Cambodia is
changing. And change is happening (mostly) at the local level. Cambodia and people
in the communes are ready to vote for a 25-year-old single woman. You will see that
this will happen, and we will see it in the results of the commune election in June.
Political parties are smart, and that is why they are now recruiting young people in
all the villages. Village youth leaders of different political parties are joining and
attending their commune council meetings.
19-year-old CYWEN member
While they were thrilled with these trends, they stressed that this is a work in progress and that
women still remain less visible than men in the public sphere in Cambodia. Women comprise
52.82% of registered voters, but hold only 22%of seats in the National Assembly and 14.75%
of Senate positions.
11
Women only make up 10.1% of municipal and provincial councilors, and
12.6% of district, town, and khan councilors.
12
In the recent 2012 commune council elections,
women were elected to just 17.79% (2,038) of council positions, a mere 3.14% (376) increase
since 2007.
13
And women were elected to only (5.81%) commune council chief positions,
representing 95 seats out of 1,633.
14

Participants mentioned next the encouraging trend in public perceptions on gender equality and
their readiness to vote for women leaders. In the group discussions in communes in Kampong
Thom province, participants were asked, Do you think your commune is ready to vote for a
25-year-old woman as its commune chief? With no hesitation, all participants raised their hands
and said, YES. If she has community work experience, we will vote for her.
Young women from all groups suggested that the view that politics is a mans world could be
mitigated through the presence of female role models, including female commune councilors.
They emphasized that these role models increase the likelihood of the political activity of younger
women in the society.
11 Ministry of Womens Affairs: A Fair Share for Women: Cambodian Gender Assessment (2008).
12 CDRI, A Gender Analysis of Decentralisation Reform in Cambodia (2012).
13 COMFREL Analysis Report The Empowerment of Women in Politics and the 3rd Mandate Commune/Sangkat Council
Elections (2012).
14 Ibid.
I will support and encourage my daughter to consider
joining local politics. I am thinking that women are
doing a better job than male councilors. After 10 years
of having women as council members, I can see their
values. They do not waste time and they are practical.
Young women would be even better. I will vote for them.
Women in the past could only take care of chickens and the kitchen, but now it is
different. They can be leaders, and they are doing a good job.
57-year-old male commune member
16
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
As gateways to elective offce, the candidate recruitment processes of political parties offer
an important avenue to increase young womens access to decision making at the sub-national
and national levels. Political parties determine the composition of lists for elections and the
rank ordering of candidates. If a party so desires, it can ensure relatively easily a diverse and
representative list of candidates, including young people, women, and minority groups. A few
participants members of the political parties youth wings suggested that prominent
Cambodian political parties are proactively searching for young women to recruit. This has been
confrmed by commune councilors in Kampong Cham.
The participants added that the small but growing number of young women who are joining local
politics indicates a favorable shift for women and also politics. They acknowledged that these
young women mostly come from families with a background in politics and a close affliation
with the political parties. They added that the presence of these women is setting a precedent.

I am doing my best to recruit more
young people for my party. We now have
12 members (youth, ages 1825) for
each village, and I must admit that they
are mostly women. Young men refuse to
be group leaders, but young women are
interested. Women can bring votes for
political parties, and both the CPP and
the Sam Rainsy (SRP) are aware of this.
Women can mobilize people in the village and get lots of support. They talk, and
they go door to door to listen to villagers. They are so close to the community.
50-year-old female commune chief
I am the youngest candidate running for commune chief in the 2012 commune
council elections. My name is frst on the party list. I am a vegetable seller. I am
proud, and I am so excited. Even though my competitor is old (78 years old) and
has experience, I still hope that I will beat him and I will win. I have supported
my party since I was 11 years old, as my mother works as a cleaner at the SRP
headquarters. The world is changing. In Thailand, they have elected a young female
prime minister. People in my small commune are also ready to vote for a 25-year-old
woman.
25-year-old hopeful
15
commune council candidate
11 In the 2012 commune council elections, Sin Chan Pov Roseth was elected as the frst deputy chief of OChar Commune,
Battambang Province.
17
CYWEN members, in particular, pointed out that in order to reinforce the efforts to expand young
womens participation at the national and local levels, partnerships must be built among various
NGOs, groups working for womens political participation, youth networks and individual
women in politics, so as to develop candidate support and to build constituencies for womens
issues. They highlighted that networking and the development of solidarity among women is key
to young womens participation in politics, and that women should strive toward this end at both
the national and local levels. Participants cited the presence of effective womens right networks
with specifc focus on political participation and representation of women as one more important
and positive change in Cambodia.
Some of the young women also noted that the slight swing in womens rights organizations away
from isolated project implementation to movement building, collective efforts, and establishing
solidarity is another positive trend. They suggested that this approach has played a key role
in increasing womens access to commune councils, and strengthened their presence, infuence,
representation, and participation there. They indicated that these networks are fexible, creative,
and focused, and that they increasingly embrace the voices of young women. Particular reference
was given to the achievements of the Committee to Promote Women in Politics (CPWP).
The participants also talked about the media and its increased attention on womens activities
in politics in Cambodia. They indicated that in recent years, the media has not only placed the
spotlight on the growing and role of women in decision making processes at all level, but has
also encouraged the younger generation to enter the political arena. They added society should be
aware that women are becoming important actors in different sectors, including politics.
They ended the discussion, indicating that the ball is rolling toward the womens court. So now it
is up to the women to stand up and shoot for change.

18
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
Recommendations 5
T
oday, the development of any political agenda that does not include the views and
experiences of those who will be affected by it is no longer credible. Yet in both electoral and
decision-making processes, young women often fnd themselves playing the role of spectators
rather than active participants. As for young Cambodian women, these discussions revealed that
the reasons for this are many and varied, ranging from cultural norms, disinterest, perception,
fnancial concerns, migration, and limited knowledge, to a lack of opportunities for women to be
systematically included in decision-making processes.
Given that young women perceive themselves as quite distant from politics, their limited access,
presence, and infuence in local politics require further attention from the Royal Government of
Cambodia and the political parties, as well as all relevant stakeholders. The issue is not one of
statistics and the diffculties that young women collectively face, but rather the primary concern
is that the process of democratic development and good governance should fulfll the goal of
gender equality.
The young women also stressed that their own consciousness of their political rights and
responsibilities is a critical element for their individual and collective agency. Therefore, they
must take the initiative themselves too to become involved in the political process.
As we refect on young womens greater engagement in local politics, the following
recommendations ought to be considered in light of the above issues:
We need to learn about politics and the power of our vote starting in childhood.
Such knowledge and understanding should be included as part of our education
system. We need to stop talking about myths, secrets, and perceptions. We need to talk
about facts. We need to shift from fear to hope. We have to face it openly. We need to
talk about politics. We need to be creative. We need to understand that politics is not
complicated or sophisticated. Politics is about our daily lives and choices. It is about
mangoes, children, school, rice, and safety. We should learn how to be the masters
and leaders of our own lives. We need to have spaces to talk about politics and its
relevance to our lives. What does our representation in commune councils and our
participation mean to our future and our lives today? We need to mobilize those who
are interested in being involved with commune councils. We need to be visible. We
cant just watch and work from outside and expect that change will happen on its
own. This does not mean that we are all going to be politicians and commune council
membersbut we can join forces together and pave a path to move forward. If we do
thatmaybe our daughters image of politics will be different from ours...
Young Womencollective voices
19
Recommendation 1
Making politics more relevant
If young women are to become more interested and engage in politics, they need to a) understand
what politics is; and b) be persuaded that the subject has greater relevance to their lives. Politics
therefore needs to be framed in terms that resonate with the issues, concerns, and dreams of
young women. Thus, emphasis should be placed on revealing to them the different ways in which
politics affects their lives and, in this way, demonstrating that issues that are of concern to them
are being addressed, and responded to. Thus the Royal government of Cambodia and relevant
stakeholders should place greater emphasis on civic education via schools, universities and
public discourses. In addition, use of social media and technology should be considered as an
important means to deliver information and communication on politics in general, as well as on
democratic development at sub-national level and the agendas of the different political parties.
These channels have the potential to expand young womens knowledge and understanding of
politics if they employ approaches that are both creative and inclusive. It should be noted here
that, on average, 1,100 people in Cambodia join Facebook every day. Thats a new Facebook user
every 2 minutes.
16
There are also estimated 19.642.563 mobile subscribers in Cambodia.
17
First, Political parties need to recognize the important contribution that young women can make
to politics, and recognize that that young people and young women particularly are often excluded
from, or are invisible in, party structures in Cambodia. Interventions should be designed to create
an enabling environment that presumably would be favorable and committed towards greater
access and presence of young women in local politics. Womens wings and youth wings are
valuable vehicles for young womens mobilization into politics, and they should seek to actively
recruit and attract young womens participation in the party.
Second, it should be recognized that young women face both fnancial and institutional barriers
to accessing political parties. Money and economic security are crucial if young women are to
actively participate in local politics at the sub-national level. Political parties should consider
funding mechanisms as a means of facilitating young womens involvement. Information with
regard to the existence of incentives should be transparent, accessible, simple, and easy to
understand.
16 http://www.visit-angkor.org/blog/2012/11/13/we-are-social-report-oct-2012-social-digital-and-mobile-in-cambodia/
17 Ibid..
Recommendation 2
Making politics more accessible
20
Young Women Political Representation and Participation in Local Governance in Cambodia
Third, young women need to be mentored as possible political candidates. Programs should be
designed to create spaces and processes that empower young women and promote efforts to
build the confdence of young women in speaking out and running for election. Programs could
be developed, for example, that include a space to talk and provide information on participation
within political parties (youth and womens wings), negotiation processes, campaigning for
candidates, and campaigns at sub-national levels.
Fourth, an increased focus on public awareness raising initiatives, designed to challenge gender
stereotypes is suggested. This might include awareness raising and debate on the cultural norms,
stereotypes and institutional barriers which restrict young womens role in public life.
Underpinning all of the efforts to increase young womens representation and participation at
the local level is partnership building among various womens rights and youth organizations,
networks working for womens greater political participation, and the media. Furthermore,
individual women who are already involved in politics, in particular, female commune councilors,
can develop candidate support and build constituencies for womens issues. Support networks
and initiatives such as CYWEN and Gender Caf could play an important role to empower young
women in communities. Networking and the development of solidarity among women is key
to empowerment and achieving greater access for young women in local politics and commune
councils.
Furthermore, regular consultation among development partners, political parties, youth and
womens rights organizations, and relevant networks can identify strategic entry points and
opportunities for collective efforts and strategic frameworks at the national and sub-national
levels. This approach could involve setting up targets, mapping existing interventions and sharing
best practices, and lead to combined and coordinated actions and allocation of funding.
Recommendation 3
Making Partnership and Strategic Framework
21
Committee to Promote Women in Politics (CPWP)
c/o GADC Ofce
#89, Street 288
Sangkat Olympic, Khan Chamcamorn
P.O. Box 2684
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel: (+855) 23 215 137
Email: info@cpwp.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/secretariat.cpwp
Website: www.cpwp.net