Message from the Board of Directors

On behalf of the Cambodia Indigenous Women Association, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the 37 indigenous women from various ethnic background such as Tampoun, Brao, Kui, Por, Chong, Bunong and Jarai, who initiated to come together to discuss the challenges and issues of the indigenous women such as land rights violation, discrimination, violence, rape and murder cases to the indigenous women … etc. I also thank to Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization (CIPO) that provided technical and financial support for the first indigenous women meeting, to establish the first indigenous women network called “Cambodia Indigenous Women Working  Group  (CIWWG)”, having clear structure and leadership team to facilitate further to work on the indigenous women specifically for indigenous women solidarity and common voice. Later, officially registered with Ministry of Interior as Cambodia Indigenous Women Association (CIWA) and approved on 09 May 2022, which are still further improving on the internal systems and leadership. So far,  CIWA developed several internal policies as well as amendment the existing ones to fit to the current context, indigenous women needs and also donors’ requirements for transparency and accountability. We, as indigenous women, are proud with the successfully established the first five-year Strategic Plan 2023- 2027 that are aligned well with the needs and context of our indigenous women members and non­ members at the ground. In order to achieve the goal, outcomes and outputs in this strategic plan, it is required the ful and effective participation from all our indigenous women to address our issues and challenges.

I strongly hope that this Strategic Plan will be used as road map for CIWA to do their work more effective, efficiency and create real impacts to the ground.