Changing how women are valued
![People from Samrong village take part in a training session about budgeting that Banteay Srei has organised [Annie Bungeroth]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/cambodia/images/training-session-about-budgeting/6161-2-eng-GB/training-session-about-budgeting_medium.jpg)
Thavy Chhoeun from CAFOD partner Banteay Srei in Cambodia talks about how both women and men are gaining the confidence to challenge issues such as domestic violence and discrimination
Thavy Chhoeun says that her work shows that there needn't be a choice between tackling poverty and challenging discrimination - it is possible to do both.
Thavy Chhoeun, 38 helped to set up Banteay Srei, a local organisation working with women and their families in Cambodia.
Although our organisation focuses on women, our overall vision is that women and men should be equal. Both should take an active part in the development of their villages and in society at large
She started out as a lecturer but became interested in development when she visited a refugee camp on the Cambodia/Thailand border.
Working at the grassroots
“There are a growing number of NGOs in Cambodia which work on women’s rights, but not many work at the grassroots.
“The war had left many women without husbands, which meant a growing number of women were working on the land as well as looking after their families.
"We realised we needed to look into women’s rights, so we started to gather women into small self-help groups. We wanted to build the strength of women in poor communities and bring their voice into the government."
As the women got stronger, they started to have more input in their community, and gain respect - reflected in the fact that many of the villages Banteay Srei works in have now got female chiefs.
But there a growing number of problems for these chiefs to face. Increasing poverty means more men migrate over the border into Thailand to find work - leaving women alone to cope with their families.
Domestic violence in the country is also high, and disagreements about land ownership are common, with many people losing their land to tourism and big business.
Chhoeun says: "Women stay at home and do as they are told. To say they are subordinate to men is an understatement! We have a saying - men are made of diamonds, women are made of cloth."
“So, although our organisation focuses on women, our overall vision is that women and men should be equal. Both should take an active part in the development of their villages and in society at large."
To this end, around 30 per cent of Banteay Srei's work is with men, giving them training in women’s rights and human rights, as well as training men to be counsellors and mediators.
Chhoeun says: “It is most effective if both women and men can meditate in cases of domestic violence - we have already seen a drop in reported cases as a result of this work.
"“In ten years time I hope that more women are aware of their rights and value themselves. My hope is that women will see their role is an important one.
"I hope more women become leaders and bring women’s issues to the fore. Some women will get to high positions in the government and can start to change the way women are valued in society."
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![Sareth (right) is deputy village chief in a Cambodian community where the empowerment of women ensures its development stays in the hands of the local people [Annie Bungeroth]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/cambodia/images/sareth-right-deputy-village-chief-/766390-1-eng-GB/sareth-right-deputy-village-chief-_0column75_nospace_landscape.jpg)
![Chhuo Khom, (centre) with her son, comes for advice to CAFOD partner Banteay Srei about the domestic abuse she suffers from her husband [Annie Bungeroth]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/cambodia/images/chhuo-khom/955368-1-eng-GB/chhuo-khom_0column75_nospace_landscape.jpg)
