The UN’s “Gender Equality Deep-Dive for Cambodia: Common Country Analysis” highlights the ongoing challenges facing the nation in incorporating women’s empowerment and gender equality into plans for post-pandemic recovery. Established social norms, discrimination, and unequal opportunities continue to be major obstacles in all areas of life, despite notable progress over the past 25 years.
The analysis delves into how traditional gender norms shape societal expectations of women, influencing policies, school curricula, and daily interactions. It emphasizes the need to address the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women, which limits their economic opportunities.
In Cambodia, women are frequently restricted by societal norms and are responsible for the majority of unpaid household labor. Further limiting their access to economic opportunities, leadership roles, and education are gender-based violence and low-paying informal jobs. The UN advises incorporating gender-sensitive tactics, aiding Cambodia in fulfilling its international commitments and strengthening assistance for civil society groups that promote gender equality.