Overview
In Cambodia, Protected Areas (PAs) are essential keys for national climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies as they cover nearly half of Cambodia’s territories and include some of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots. Here, women are increasingly taking on important community protected areas (CPA) roles in forest management, patrolling and leadership positions, with the support of organizations like the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC). However, gender-based violence is a barrier to women’s full and effective participation as they shared experiences of harassment, threats, physical and psychological abuse, which prevent them from accessing financial benefits and leadership opportunities. Under RISE, RECOFTC is partnering with Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC) to work with the Women’s CPA Network, the CPA Network and local communities to address social norms and build awareness and capacities on gender-based violence and environmental linkages – including via male engagement as a prevention strategy – to improve women’s full, effective and safe participation in Cambodian CPAs and forest management.
