The Cambodian Government released a report on July 30th that identifies opportunities to increase the deployment of women in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and, as a result, in United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Operations. The report includes a comprehensive set of recommendations to promote gender equality in the armed forces. Through a comprehensive assessment, the document also identifies specific challenges and opportunities for the meaningful participation of women in the RCAF.

Cambodia is the first ASEAN Member State and the second country in Asia-Pacific to conduct such study. Cambodia is also the 1st highest contributor of women peacekeepers among the ASEAN Member States.

Recommendations in the report include to improve capacity building and training support for both female and male officers. It emphasizes the importance of enhancing skills beyond those required for unit deployment, including pre-deployment technical and practical training. Additionally, it addresses the specific needs of women during deployment, such as the provision of healthcare and mental health support.

To promote an enabling environment, the report suggests concrete measures such as implementing official parental leave policies and addressing gender and social norms. These steps aim to combat misconceptions and stigma surrounding women’s deployment. The report also highlights the significance of recruitment campaigns by the RCAF and the visibility of female role models and trailblazers within the institution and broader society.

The findings and recommendations from the report will guide policy formulation and institutional reforms. These efforts aim to overcome identified challenges and promote the full and meaningful participation of women in the military.

The country aims to increase its deployment of military women to UN Peacekeeping operations to 20 percent by 2024.

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