Cambodia Reaffirms Crucial Role of Women in Global Peace

Cambodia has reaffirmed the crucial role of women in global peacebuilding, citing its track record of deploying over 1,000 female peacekeepers in United Nations peacekeeping missions. This was highlighted during a high-level UN forum in New York themed "Women's Leadership for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace." Speaking at the forum, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the UN, Yoeng Chansophear, stated that Cambodia remains steadfastly committed and strives to empower women through their participation in inclusive policies and governance, in line with national agendas. He emphasized the significant role of Cambodian women as indispensable founders and protectors of peace within UN peacekeeping missions. Notably, over the past two decades, Cambodia has deployed a total of 10,726 personnel to UN missions, including 1,052 women. These peacekeeping forces have served in 10 countries, including Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Syria, Cyprus, Yemen, and the Congo. Cambodian contingents provide expertise in areas such as demining, multi-disciplinary engineering, gendarmerie, Level 2 hospitals, airport engineering, unexploded ordnance disposal, staff officers, and military observers. Currently, 473 personnel, including 83 women, are deployed in four countries: South Sudan, Lebanon, Central African Republic, and the Congo. For nearly two decades, Cambodia has demonstrated a strong commitment to participating in the maintenance of international peace and security through its active involvement in UN peacekeeping operations.