The Australian Government and the Royal Government of Cambodia have reaffirmed their decade-long partnership to combat gender-based violence with the official launch of the Fourth National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women 2025-20230 (NAPVAW IV).
Supported through the Australia’s ACCESS 2 Program, NAPVAW IV brings together key ministries, subnational authorities, and civil society partners to advance gender equality, promoting women’s rights, and expand survivor-centreed services across the country.
Launched on 21 September 2026, NAPVAW IV establishes a multi-sectorial strategy designed to transform policy into concrete action. The plan focusses on four core strategic pillars:
- Prevention: Addressing root causes and driving societal awareness.
- Legal protection and multi-sectoral services: Expanding survivor-centered support and healthcare.
- Law and policy development: Strengthening legal framework implementation.
- Monitoring, evaluation and review: Generating evidence to track progress and hold institutions accountable.
Ms Bridget Collier, Chargé d’Affaires of the Australian Embassy in Cambodia, welcomed the comprehensive and forward-looking approach reflected in NAPVAW IV. The Plan promotes a multi-sectoral approach to preventing violence through prevention initiatives, survivor-centred services, legal and policy reform, evidence generation, and strengthened accountability. She noted:
“Australia is proud to have contributed to Cambodia’s efforts and looks forward to continuing our strong partnership and supporting the implementation of NAPVAW IV to achieve meaningful and lasting outcomes for women and girls across Cambodia.”
Her Excellency Dr Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs, expressed her sincere appreciation to the Australian Government, through the ACCESS 2 Program, as well as other partners, for their financial and technical support in the development of NAPVAW IV and its official launch and dissemination. She noted that this support contributes to efforts to prevent violence and helps survivors break free from cycles of violence that could otherwise result in loss of life.
His Excellency Abhisantibindit Sa Sokha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, outlined essential measures to ensure the success of NAPVAW IV:
- Inter-Ministerial Collaboration: Deepening coordination among the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), Ministry of Interior (MoI), Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), and the Ministry of Information (MoI).
- Expanding Survivor Services: Strengthening One-Stop Service Units (OSSUs) within healthcare facilities, establishing additional counseling rooms nationwide, and securing sustainable support for safe shelters.
- Addressing Emerging Threats & Harmful Practices: Implementing measures to prevent child marriage and adolescent pregnancy, while partnering with the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia (BAKC) to provide free legal support to low-income women—particularly those impacted by technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV).
- Gender-Responsive Budgeting & Outreach: Increasing awareness of domestic violence laws in remote areas, integrating gender-responsive budgeting across all institutional levels, and enforcing responsible media reporting on gender-based violence.
Through the ongoing support of ACCESS 2 Program, Australia and Cambodia are building inclusive, data-driven, and survivor-centred support systems. To date, the program has enabled thousands of survivors including women with disabilities and Indigenous women to access quality essential services such as healthcare, legal assistance, and safe referral pathways.
By fostering multi-sectoral cooperation and local ownership, the partnership continues to work toward a safer, more equal future where every woman and girl in Cambodia can live with safety, dignity, and equal opportunity.
