Empowering Women Forest Defenders in Cambodia

WEC Program Update (Jan–June 2025)

The Women Engage in their Communities (WEC) program continues to grow through strong local leadership and community ownership.

In the first half of 2025, WEC women leaders facilitated 13 small-group meetings across four provinces, reaching 118 participants, exceeding the original target. These groups created safe spaces for women to build confidence, discuss women’s rights, family relationships, non-violent communication, and plan community actions for forest and river protection.

Women’s leadership is increasingly recognized. 15 WEC women joined district-level Prey Lang Community Network meetings, gaining experience in transparent decision-making and leadership processes alongside male leaders.

WEC women also played active roles in six forest patrols and three river patrols, with 37 women participating, including 16 WEC leaders. Their involvement shows growing acceptance of women as leaders in environmental protection, particularly in river conservation in Kratie.

In February 2025, WEC successfully expanded from Kratie to Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, and Stung Treng, strengthening women’s leadership in addressing violence, Indigenous rights, and natural resource protection.

These results show that when women are trusted and supported, they lead meaningful, sustainable change in their communities.

On February 4–6, 2025, the Women Engage in their Community (WEC) project moved beyond its pilot phase in Kratie to be introduced in three additional provinces—Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, and Stung Treng—making a total of four provinces within the Prey Lang and Prey Preah Roka Community Forests where the initiative is now active. This expansion was launched through a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop focused on peacebuilding themes, held at the Four-Square Church in Stung Thmei Village, Svay Dangkum Commune, Siem Reap City, Siem Reap Province.

The event brought together 18 participants (14 women and 3 men), who drew upon the lessons learned from the successful pilot in Kratie. Participants explored strategies for strengthening women’s leadership and engagement in tackling pressing community challenges such as violence against women, child abuse, protection of Indigenous rights, and natural resource management.

Protection of provacy and secuirty photos of women leaders will not be shown in public. Fuller and photos of women maybe avaible upon on request by email pbedmony@gmail.com