Cambodia

Learn more about the Daughters Program and byTavi -
two projects started by CGI that are having an impact
on the quality of life of women in Cambodia.

Measured by both income and broader human development indicators, Cambodia is among the poorest countries in the world. Cambodia ranks 136 of 179 countries in the world on the human development index. Its population of 14.2 million is growing at about 2.5 % per year. Annual per capita income is US $606. Poverty is pervasive in Cambodia. Rural households, especially those for whom agriculture is the primary source of income, account for almost 90% of the poor.

Poverty in Cambodia is characterized by low income and consumption, poor nutritional status, low educational attainment, less access to public services including school and health services, less access to economic opportunities, vulnerability to external shocks, and exclusion from economic, social and political processes. The relatively high prevalence of HIV/Aids in Cambodia is an additional challenge to the current human development situation.

Cambodia women play an active role in the country's economy and civil society. They represent 53% of the active labor force and head 25% of Cambodian households. In parallel, women face constraints in all areas of life. They continue to face substantial discrimination on the labor market, earning 30% to 40% less than men. The literacy rate for men is 40% higher than women and male school enrolment is 50% higher than that of girls by age 15, and nearly three times as large by age 18. Poor access to quality health services, including maternal and child health services exacerbate the problem of poor reproductive health. Cambodia has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in Asia.

Prostitution and sex trafficking are two social problems that have become acute in recent years. While significant progress has been made in drafting and passing legislation to protect the rights of women, law enforcement is weak. Discrimination and violence against women - often underreported - remains a serious problem. The poor of Cambodia include many people who are at risk of being left behind as the economic grows. This includes the disabled, aged, orphans, widows, the landless and the unemployed, subsistence farmers, indigenous and ethnic minorities and particular groups of the urban poor.

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