Phnom Penh (FN), Jan. 11 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet shared eight recommendations for the Ministry of Women's Affairs to further promote gender equality across sectors, speaking on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 11) during the closing of the 2023 annual meeting of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

The eight recommendations are as follow:

First, encourage the Ministry of Women's Affairs and relevant ministries to sustain investments in women within the national policy framework through initiatives like Gender Responsive Budgeting and Human Resource Development.

Second, relevant ministries, institutions, and the private sector shall further jointly cooperate to strengthen and expand measures to assist female entrepreneurs owning Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as well as improve the financial inclusion for women and promote women's involvement in socioeconomic activities.

Third, relevant ministries and institutions need to expand the scope of the national social protection framework and health care services towards global health coverage in order to ensure that every citizen has inclusive access to this service.

Fourth, the Ministry of Women's Affairs shall collaborate with relevant ministries and institutions to address gender gap in the digital sector, in particular increasing female involvement in the digital sector, the use of digital technology and education, and Science, Technology, Engineering, Creative Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

Fifth, in order to improve the work-life balance, the Ministry of Women's Affairs shall pay attention to collaboration with public and private partners on social benefits that recognize the value of domestic work and care for family members, as well as take the necessary measures to reduce the workload of women and provide more life options for women.

Sixth, the Ministry of Women's Affairs, relevant ministries, and institutions shall further promote social morality, women's values, and harmony in the family by strengthening the role of the National Committee to promote social morality, women's and Cambodia's family values, strengthening the implementation of the National Action Plan on Violence against Women and Children and mitigate risks that affect the safety and dignity of women and girls.

Seventh, the Ministry of Women's Affairs and relevant ministries and institutions shall implement programs and measures fostering women's leadership across all levels and sectors. This initiative aims to ensure that every citizen enjoys rights and opportunities for choice and representation, contributing to socioeconomic development with inclusivity and sustainability.

Eighth, to maintain harmony in family life and enhance work efficiency, I asked the Ministry of Interior to consider deploying women, who serve as deputy governors in the Capital, Provinces, Districts, and Communes, to a local workplace close to their families.
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