PhnomPenhPost-Jan 26, 2023
A senior environment official called for calm after indigenous women’s communities urged relevant ministries and institutions to address their concerns by including their input into the draft amendments to the protected natural areas and forestry laws. On January 25, representatives of indigenous communities from provinces across the country held a press conference in Phnom Penh on issues and challenges facing minority women on the implementation of the law and the new draft law on forests and protected natural areas. A statement from the indigenous communities’ representatives stated that the conference was held to raise public awareness of the situation and the specific needs of indigenous women as land, forest and natural resource defenders. “This conference also calls on the relevant and competent authorities to pay attention and provide specific interventions to the victims of the land, forest and natural resources protectors as indigenous women,” the press release said. On that occasion, Fang Champey, vice-president of the Cambodia Indigenous Women Association (CIWA), said that Cambodia’s indigenous peoples have traditions, customs and lifestyles that depend on land and natural resources, including their religious ceremonies that have encouraged respect for the forest, mountains, lakes, streams and waterfalls since ancient times. She said that according to each geographical location and way of life, the leadership is well known by the elders in the village through sharing from generation to generation for a long time. Champey described the problems and challenges of indigenous women: “Our lives, livelihoods and beliefs have changed dramatically in terms of land security. And the loss of this land has led to the loss of livelihoods, social security, happiness, identity and culture. In fact, many communities have not yet been able to register collective land or have not owned enough land to do so and have had problems with investment companies and conservation projects.” Read more at: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/indigenous-women-voice-collective-concerns
