My International Women's Day
March 09, 2015
This year, the International Women's Day is such a memorable day for me. Usually, I would be tied to many institutional task organised in line with the celebration of the IWD day but this year, the organisation I am working for does not host or organise any event on its own, nor did it organise anything among its staff. It is something... to be reflected upon given the principle we believe in and the practice we carry out in our own work place.
Well, as a woman, there is a passion that attaches to the International Women's Day. I no longer want to focus on what men think about the day, what the media propaganda about women having one day to celebrate their rights, or many of the wrong message that go around. IWD is the day that marks the achievement of the fight for a 8-working hours, 8 rest hours, and 8 family hours. It is the celebration of the recognition for women's achievement and the reminder that we need to keep fighting for equal right of women human rights same as other human being. I have done four remarkable things for the day.
Firstly, I went to join a book launching called 'CRUSH' written by all-women writers. The book comprised short stories of how women have crush, fall for the men just to get less attention deserved or realise the men already have a partner. But these different stories send positive and motivating message for women to appreciate themselves and their beauty as the way it is, have confidence i their own self and put their goal as the priority. My dear friend, Mrs. Phina, wrote two short stories, coordinated and made sure the publication for the book happened. She is currenlty the president of the women's writer association in Cambodia. Phina took the opportunity of the IWD to celebrate the achievement and bring to fore senior women writer who have contribute in their lives to literary and writing. I took along my nephew to the book launch and taught him how to photograph the event. It was a great start of the day.
Photos credit to my beloved nephew, Leavann
Secondly, after the book launching, I went with another friend to join the mock parliamentary debate on the draft NEC law. Interestingly, before I arrived, the so-called parliament 'students' elected three women to be the president, first and second deputy president of the parliament. Maybe it could be that all the three women are elected out of the honour of the day, IWD, or maybe it is something that Cambodia is walking toward in its political direction. It is something interesting to see. The mock debate start with the 'parliament commenced its session, invite the committee advisor on the draft law to review and provided their recommendation of different section/articles of the law. There are some interesting questions from the floor/member of parliament. In Chapter I, article 4 emphasize on the composition of the NEC committee; the composition is 7 members, three must be women. In article 6 states, if the president of NEC is a man, the deputy president must be a woman; however, if the president is a woman, the deputy president could be either a man or a woman.
For this recommendation, many of the 'member of the parliament' came up with a lot of questions regarding the unclear and 'unfair' recommendation.... in which in my opinion is the scary feeling of patriarchy system in the legislative discourse being uprooted.
Cambodia is a signatory state to the CEDAW convention in which it provides the state to take a special measure to promote women's involvement in political affairs. Therefore, in the case of Cambodia where the proportion of female parliamentary members remains low, less than 30% in this mandate, the recommendation for NEC committee is valid. When Cambodia has progressed in proportion of women in political position, the special measure could be revised or stopped. I didn't stay till the end of the debate but left after the first chapter of the draft law was discussed and voted, in which the vote is 67 out of 109 in favour of the recommendation to be included.
Thirdly, I went to join the SafeCity for women in Phnom Penh's Freedom Park organised by ActionAid Cambodia and its partners. It was such a fun and great demonstration of solidarity among women and men. Core message to demand for the government to take measure to ensure the city is safe for all citizen, men, women, children, day or night times.
THE CITY BELONG TO ALL OF US!!!
Photos credit to Meas Sopheareak, ActionAider/Cambodia
This year, the International Women's Day is such a memorable day for me. Usually, I would be tied to many institutional task organised in line with the celebration of the IWD day but this year, the organisation I am working for does not host or organise any event on its own, nor did it organise anything among its staff. It is something... to be reflected upon given the principle we believe in and the practice we carry out in our own work place.
Well, as a woman, there is a passion that attaches to the International Women's Day. I no longer want to focus on what men think about the day, what the media propaganda about women having one day to celebrate their rights, or many of the wrong message that go around. IWD is the day that marks the achievement of the fight for a 8-working hours, 8 rest hours, and 8 family hours. It is the celebration of the recognition for women's achievement and the reminder that we need to keep fighting for equal right of women human rights same as other human being. I have done four remarkable things for the day.
Firstly, I went to join a book launching called 'CRUSH' written by all-women writers. The book comprised short stories of how women have crush, fall for the men just to get less attention deserved or realise the men already have a partner. But these different stories send positive and motivating message for women to appreciate themselves and their beauty as the way it is, have confidence i their own self and put their goal as the priority. My dear friend, Mrs. Phina, wrote two short stories, coordinated and made sure the publication for the book happened. She is currenlty the president of the women's writer association in Cambodia. Phina took the opportunity of the IWD to celebrate the achievement and bring to fore senior women writer who have contribute in their lives to literary and writing. I took along my nephew to the book launch and taught him how to photograph the event. It was a great start of the day.
Secondly, after the book launching, I went with another friend to join the mock parliamentary debate on the draft NEC law. Interestingly, before I arrived, the so-called parliament 'students' elected three women to be the president, first and second deputy president of the parliament. Maybe it could be that all the three women are elected out of the honour of the day, IWD, or maybe it is something that Cambodia is walking toward in its political direction. It is something interesting to see. The mock debate start with the 'parliament commenced its session, invite the committee advisor on the draft law to review and provided their recommendation of different section/articles of the law. There are some interesting questions from the floor/member of parliament. In Chapter I, article 4 emphasize on the composition of the NEC committee; the composition is 7 members, three must be women. In article 6 states, if the president of NEC is a man, the deputy president must be a woman; however, if the president is a woman, the deputy president could be either a man or a woman.
For this recommendation, many of the 'member of the parliament' came up with a lot of questions regarding the unclear and 'unfair' recommendation.... in which in my opinion is the scary feeling of patriarchy system in the legislative discourse being uprooted.
Cambodia is a signatory state to the CEDAW convention in which it provides the state to take a special measure to promote women's involvement in political affairs. Therefore, in the case of Cambodia where the proportion of female parliamentary members remains low, less than 30% in this mandate, the recommendation for NEC committee is valid. When Cambodia has progressed in proportion of women in political position, the special measure could be revised or stopped. I didn't stay till the end of the debate but left after the first chapter of the draft law was discussed and voted, in which the vote is 67 out of 109 in favour of the recommendation to be included.
Thirdly, I went to join the SafeCity for women in Phnom Penh's Freedom Park organised by ActionAid Cambodia and its partners. It was such a fun and great demonstration of solidarity among women and men. Core message to demand for the government to take measure to ensure the city is safe for all citizen, men, women, children, day or night times.
THE CITY BELONG TO ALL OF US!!!
Photos credit to Meas Sopheareak, ActionAider/Cambodia
The fourth and last activity of the day is the solidarity dinner with all the amazing women friends, shared with each others our account of the day, our reflection of our work place and how women's right concept is applied or reluctant to be applied by the top leadership.
After all, the day is to celebrate and reflect and do more to ensure that women's right is human right and is respected!!!!
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