This June, the Australia–Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services – Phase 2 (ACCESS 2) proudly celebrated Pride Month 2026 to highlights the importance of inclusion and advocacy for the most marginalised members of the LGBTQI+ community, while encouraging collective action towards a more equitable and inclusive society.
Celebrating Pride Month has become an annual tradition for the ACCESS 2 team, reflecting our ongoing commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. On 15 June 2026, the ACCESS 2 team came together to celebrate Pride Month through a learning and reflection session focused on “Gender Identity and Diversity.” The event aimed to promote intersectionality, equal access to essential services, the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV), and a sense of solidarity and belonging for all.
As part of the celebration, ACCESS 2 invited Seng Socheat, Coordinator team member of #LovesisDiversity, to facilitate an interactive session on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) and gender identity (LTGBQI+). Participants gained valuable insights into key concepts, including sex, gender, gender norms, SOGIESC, and the diverse identities and pronouns used within the LGBTQI+ community. The session helped strengthen participants’ understanding of diversity and inclusion and encouraged respectful engagement with people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
The ACCESS 2 team has aligned Pride Month with its commitment to inclusive services under the key message of Safety, Dignity, Pride, ensuring that no one is left behind. Supported by the Australian Government, the program promotes equitable access to essential services for persons with disabilities, survivors of gender-based violence, Indigenous communities, and LGBTQI+ individuals. This observance reinforces ACCESS 2’s dedication to advancing gender equality by fostering environments where all individuals can live safely, be treated with dignity, and express themselves with pride.
ACCESS 2 advances this commitment through several key approaches:
- Inclusive Service Delivery: Ensuring that rehabilitation, GBV, and social protection services are accessible, responsive, and inclusive of the diverse needs of persons with disabilities, survivors of GBV, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
- Workplace Equality: Promoting a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment for staff, partners, and the communities we serve, where diversity is valued and everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
The Australian Government, through ACCESS 2, remains committed to investing in gender equality and social inclusion for all. This commitment aligns with the priorities of the Royal Government of Cambodia to build an inclusive society where everyone can participate fully and equally in social and economic life.
By celebrating Pride Month and promoting greater understanding of gender identity and diversity, ACCESS 2 continues to foster a culture of inclusion, respect, and belonging for all.
