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Poverty Impacts Women More Severely Than Men
Friday, 03 December 2010 04:37 by DAP
Lack of access to and control over resources, lack of opportunities and lack of mobility were serious issues which impacted women more severely.
Cambodia’s Minister of Women’s Affairs Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi said “Women were severely impacted because of lack of decision making power and that women in the formal sector such as services, manufacturing and lower rung positions were often subjected to “ Last to be hired and first to be hired.”
She said that women often did not have any job security, no maternity benefits, no health benefits, no leave and pensions though women in the informal sector contributed substantively to the GDP.
Minister Kantha Phavi said that it was therefore crucial that opportunities and alternative resources were made available for communities and to ensure than both women and men shared responsibilities towards sustaining the environment.
Meanwhile, Khuon Sudary, member of the Standing Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), said that the global economic and financial crisis had put disproportionate burden on women.
“In fact, the gender issues in Asia have not attained increased prominence in the regional and international debates on sustainable energy, environment and economy.”
Iris Indira Murti, Chairperson of International Cooperation Board of the Central Executive Board of Party of the Functional Groups of Indonesia, commented that since women worked two thirds of their normal working hours largely because of house hold chores and that they should be equal opportunities for both women and men in this globalized world.
She added: “Women will be good in politics if politics were good to women,” and that there should be concerted “Pro-women and pro-poor approach at policy making levels.
The session concluded with representatives from 22 countries issuing a joint declaration which reaffirmed the commitment of women to the objectives of ICAPP to promote exchanges and cooperation between political parties to enhance mutual understanding and trust among peoples and countries in the region, to promote regional cooperation through the unique role and channel of political parties, and to create an environment for sustained peace and shared prosperity in the region.
Meanwhile Rinzin Jamtsho, the Secretary to the President of Bhutan, said in the second plenary session of ICAPP that “Bhutan became a democracy by the persuasion and personal efforts of a King who worked consistently over thirty years to establish the prerequisites of a democratic culture and institutional arrangements.”
“The so called leaders today are recruits called upon by the people to serve the nation at this critical juncture. In pursuing noble vision of Kings of Bhutan, the party has adopted the principle of “growth with equity and justice” as the central theme that has been the guiding principle.”
He added that Bhutan is the only country, pursuing the unique and profound concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and that the ultimate goal of development in Bhutan is to maximize happiness of the people, which takes into account the values of spiritual and emotional needs more than just satisfying material needs. Gross National Happiness comprises of four pillars. Four pillars are: equitable socio- economic development, environmental preservation, cultural promotion and good governance.
The general theme adopted by most speakers was for Asian countries dire need to address the key issues to construct a road map for accelerating growth for a better tomorrow. These included building on past achievements, quality education, bringing employment and Meso Economy to the center point, improving health services, ensuring pro-poor growth, strengthening local government, upgrading micro credit, focus on women’s advancement, strengthening connectivity, improving technology by giving emphasis on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and bringing policy process into focus and addressing implementation.
Cambodia to Host International Mines Meeting in 2011
Friday, 03 December 2010 03:53 By Soy Sophea
Cambodia has been designated to host the 11th Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in 2011.
According to press statement issued by International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) on Friday stated that Prak Sokhonn, chairperson of Cambodia’s mine agency, has been designated President of this prestigious international gathering. The meeting will take place at the Prime Minister’s new building in Phnom Penh from 28 November to 3 December 2011. The decision was announced this week in Geneva, Switzerland, at an annual meeting of the 1997 treaty banning antipersonnel landmines.
The 11th Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty will bring together government representatives from most of the 156 countries that have joined the treaty, some states not parties attending as observers, UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and civil society campaigners gathered under the umbrella of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).
“We are very proud that Cambodia will host this meeting and that we will work with the partners and friends of the Mine Ban Treaty that we have made since 1997 on our home ground,” said Tun Channareth, ICBL ambassador and landmine survivor who received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the ICBL in 1997.
Other campaigners including Steve Goose, chair of the Governance Board of the ICBL, welcomed the words in Prak Sokhonn’s opening statement at the Geneva meeting, that “Cambodia, as one of the pioneers of the movement to ban landmines … will cooperate closely with neighboring countries and others to meet all obligations stipulated in the [Mine Ban Treaty], especially in Article 5.”
Article 5 of the treaty requires the clearance of all mined areas in Cambodia within ten years, including those in the contentious border areas. In 2009, Cambodia was granted an additional ten years as it could not meet its initial 2010 treaty-mandated deadline for clearance. It is now required to clear all mined areas on its territory by 2020.
According to the ICBL’s Landmine Monitor 2010, Cambodia has at least 44,000 survivors of landmine injuries and many more families and communities living in mine-affected communities.
“Next year’s Phnom Penh meeting can be an occasion for mine-affected communities to celebrate progress made on the landmine issue worldwide, for survivors to recognize their abilities and for civil society to push for a Cambodia and world where mines can no longer traumatize people and impede freedom of movement,” said Denise Coghlan of the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions.
U.S. warship arrives in cambodia for goodwill visit
Friday, 03 December 2010 02:59 (Xinhua)
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 3 -- The missile destroyer USS Mustin docked in Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on Friday for a five-day goodwill visit in Cambodia, said a U.S. embassy official in Phnom Penh on Friday.
The missile destroyer USS Mustin is commanding by the Cambodia- born U.S. navy commander Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, with the more than 300 sailors under his charge.
Vanrith Chrea, Public Affairs Section, told Xinhua on Friday that the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) docked at Sihanoukville Automomous Port on Friday morning for 5-day (Dec. 3-7) goodwill visit.
"During in Cambodia, the naval crews will conduct community service projects, visiting orphanage, do humanism work in Bateay Meanchey province's Samlot district and meet with Cambodian Navy for military experience exchange," he said.
Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz was born and living at the outside of the capital Phnom Penh in the late 1960's until April, 1973, a young American woman, who worked at the U.S. Embassy, took him for adoption in the U.S.. It is his first time to return to his birth country in 37 years.
Raised by his adoptive mother Maryna Lee Misiewicz, Misiewicz enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school in Lanark, Illinois.
He was selected for the Navy's Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program and attended the U. S. Naval Academy, where he received his commission in 1992.
His service as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer ultimately brought him to command the guided missile destroyer USS Mustin, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan..
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