Women’s Rights Program

In September 2010 SISHA launched the Women’s Rights pilot course, providing vulnerable women with information to empower them in resisting social pressure and help prevent them falling victim to exploitation. The pilot course was offered to women living in the Stung Meanchey slums of Phnom Penh.

The lessons are designed to increase women’s economic, political, legal, and social power and reduce their vulnerability to crimes such as human trafficking, rape, domestic violence and other forms of exploitation. The training course is both practical and relevant, based on needs identified by the women themselves. The course is also designed to create a lasting and on-going effect, providing life skills and information that can also be spread to their families and other women in the community.

The course was presented on a weekly basis for 8 weeks and covered the following subjects:

• Rule of Law and Human Rights
• Democratic Process
• Relationships and Family
• Domestic Violence
• Human Trafficking
• Labour
• Migration
• Community Outreach Development

To assist in their learning, participants are provided with training manuals and law books. A large part of the course also takes place through discussions, information and idea-sharing between the women themselves and our legal assistants and facilitators.

SISHA recently completed its second Women’s Rights Training Program from October 3 – 7, 2011. The course, which was funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, educated 64 women in the Rattanakiri province about human trafficking, rape, domestic violence, and legal rights under Cambodian law.

Help support the 2012 Women’s Rights Program:    

• $20 provides a manual and law books to one woman
• $100 covers the entire cost for one woman to participate in the course