Project profile

Safe Service for Minority Population (SSMP)

The One in five Cambodian women aged 15-64 have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime and Women with disabilities experience much higher levels of all forms of violence in their lives. A 2016 study conducted by the Australian Government funded Community Policing Initiative showed that Gender Based Violence (GBV) is one of the largest safety issues concerning communities across Cambodia.

 

This project, Safe Services for Minority Populations (SSMP), aims to improve services and support for GBV survivors in Ratanak Kiri province. The project is a “system-wide approach” to improve GBV support services and to provide support to women via national and sub-national authorities in Ratanak Kiri. CARE is implementing this project in Ratanak Kiri province through a combination of direct service deliveries at a sub-national level under the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

 

CARE’s approach in Cambodia is to coordinate with key ministries (MoWA, MoH, MoI), each with a responsibility for supporting sub-national authorities at a provincial and district level. IEC materials including a service mapping directory and a referral flow chart will be developed in order to illustrate what services are available and who can provide these necessary services for GBV survivors.

 

The project will strengthen the effectiveness of service provisions and intervention from focal stakeholders for GBV survivors. Evidence and research from the project will inform national advocacy efforts in relation to legislative reform and regulation in Cambodia.

 

The project will work in collaboration with CARE International’s Dignified Work Strategy team and related Global Advocacy efforts by CARE. The regional approach also enables CARE to develop a comprehensive and accessible knowledge base on what works in responding to GBV related issues. Through this project, CARE will be the leading provider of additional training to duty bearers on Sexual Harassment, Social Analysis and Action, and Attitude Training to Service Providers.

 

Objective

To contribute to achieving the ACCESS program improving the sustainability, quality and inclusiveness of services for persons with disabilities and for women affected by gender-based violence (GBV). 

 

Key activities

Project activities include:

• On-the-job training for commune authorities on how to respond to violence against women within their commune.

 

• Capacity building to engage the Ministry of Health, Municipal Health Department and Operational Districts with on-the-ground health care providers on responses to violence against women.

 

• Supporting the National Committee for Sub-national Democratic Development (NCDD) to engage with on-the ground commune response to violence against women.

• Supporting commune authorities to consult with their local communities on responding to violence against women.

 

• Developing a comprehensive referral network covering services for survivors of violence which include health, legal and support services.

 

• Increasing awareness and understanding of violence against women through community Women’s Groups and community Men’s Groups.