Cambodia is strengthening its disaster risk reduction efforts with a focus on gender equality, recognizing that resilience cannot be achieved without women’s leadership and participation. On 22 January 2026, 88 representatives from government ministries, civil society organizations, and local communities convened in Phnom Penh for a national policy dialogue led by the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) with support from UN Women. The dialogue reviewed progress under Cambodia’s National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024–2028, placing women and gender equality at the centre of disaster preparedness and response.
Participants emphasized that the impacts of climate-related disasters are not gender-neutral. Sorphoarn Sok, Programme Analyst at UN Women Cambodia, highlighted that without gender-responsive approaches, disaster risk reduction efforts risk reinforcing inequalities and leaving women and marginalized communities more vulnerable. The dialogue also examined alignment with international frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and CEDAW General Recommendation No. 37, which underscore women’s disproportionate exposure to disaster impacts and their essential roles in prevention, preparedness, and recovery.
Progress in institutional capacity-building was highlighted, including gender mainstreaming in disaster management systems and the use of gender-based data to identify risks and needs of vulnerable groups. Local implementation was showcased by community-based “Women Champions” like Chan Kimcheng from ActionAid Cambodia, who described efforts to mobilize Commune Women and Children Committees and raise awareness on early warning systems and the 1294 hotline. Technical support from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has strengthened local preparedness, integrating gender-sensitive indicators in commune contingency plans and addressing risks such as gender-based violence during emergency evacuations.
Participants agreed that sustained investment is essential to fully support women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. This includes stronger budget commitments, increased opportunities for women in decision-making roles, and investments in preparing girls and young people to lead in the future. Youth representatives stressed the importance of safe and inclusive participation, including psychological safety, family support, and strong networks for women, as well as accessible infrastructure for pregnant women and persons with disabilities.
For UN Women, the dialogue represented a key step toward gender-transformative disaster risk reduction, ensuring women’s rights, leadership, and protection are central. Women are not only disproportionately affected by disasters but are also driving resilience through community preparedness, early warning systems, and local response initiatives. Cambodia’s approach reinforces that effective disaster risk reduction goes beyond infrastructure and emergency response to include rights, protection, and inclusion, ensuring women and girls can access safety and services before, during, and after crises.
