NGO-CEDAW was founded in 1995 after several Cambodian women activists returned from the Beijing World Conference on Women.
ABOUT US
NGO-CEDAW is the only active women’s coalition promoting CEDAW and women’s rights in Cambodia.
NGO-CEDAW is Cambodia’s leading coalition dedicated to monitoring and promoting the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It has grown from 9 founding organizational members to a coalition of 32 active local member CSOs. Working with a wider network of 30 partner organizations, NGO-CEDAW gives voice to otherwise underrepresented groups of women and LGBTIQ+ communities.
NGO-CEDAW collaborates with its coalition members to produce the annual CEDAW Monitoring reports to hold the government to account on their implementation of the CEDAW Committee’s Concluding Observations, facilitates members’ meetings and capacity development training and workshops, conducts and facilitates research to strengthen the evidence-base to support advocacy initiatives, skills and expertise sharing amongst youth, civil society and national and international NGOs and development partners, hosting annual university debates; and organizes campaigns, events and an annual art exhibition during the 16 Days Campaign to end Violence Against Women.
NGO-CEDAW has also established a good relationship with the government. Significant results of such collaboration include the adoption of many of its recommendations into the official CEDAW report and influencing the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in its decision to adopt the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Victims in 2005 as well as the anti-trafficking law of 2008. Responding to advocacy from NGO-CEDAW, the Ministry of Interior adopted a people-friendly civil registration system. With the prompting of NGO-CEDAW, the National Assembly finally ratified the Optional Protocol on CEDAW in 2010. Recently, NGO-CEDAW worked with the government to recommend amendments to the domestic violence law
NGO-CEDAW has been a nationally registered NGO with Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior since October 21, 2009 with registration number 2587.
Our work
Monitoring
We address gaps in the Cambodian government’s implementation of the UN Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). We produce regular reports to the UN CEDAW Committee to respond to the Cambodian government’s reports or to provide an alternative source of information to the UN if the government fails to write a report.
Raising Awareness
Achieving equality requires changing attitudes of all members of society. We conduct public education and radio programing on women’s rights. We participate in public activities on International Women’s Day in March and during the 16 Days Campaign against gender-based violence ending on International Human Rights Day in December.
Advocacy
NGO-CEDAW advocates for better laws to protect women’s rights, with full inclusion of the LGBT, disabled, HIV positive, rural, and indigenous communities, and women marginalized by occupation in all parts of government and society.
Capacity Building
NGO-CEDAW’s team of experts works with our members to provide training and technical assistance on topics related to women’s rights. We work on joint projects with members and share information from our collective experiences.
Read the Strategic Plan (2025-2029) to find out how NGO-CEDAW promotes gender equality and improves the rights of women and girls in Cambodia.
Our Vision
A Cambodia where women and girls can thrive, lead, and live with dignity, equality, and freedom from all forms of discrimination.
Our Mission
To promote and protect the human rights of women and girls in Cambodia by strengthening the NGO-CEDAW network, raising public awareness, and working collaboratively with civil society and government to ensure the full and permanent application of CEDAW principles across all institutions and sectors of society.
Our Values
- Adopting a human rights-based approach
- Using a feminist perspective in solving problems
- Promoting equality and fairness
- Pursuing transparency and accountability
- Consultation and inclusive participation to promote ownership
