As part of the new worldwide campaign for stopping violence against women, IANSA member the Working Group for Weapons Reduction (WGWR) hosted a major public discussion in Phnom Penh municipality on 7 March 2005, and an additional public discussion at commune level in Kampong Cham province.
During the 12-months of the year 2004, a total of 553 gun-related incidents were reported in the national print media. Robberies and personal conflicts were most commonly reported and accounted for 77% of the total amount of incidents in 2004. In total, 829 individuals were victimised by gun misuse in these cases. Out of the 720 victims, whose gender was specified, 23.4% were females, among which some 2.9% were killed and 13.8% others injured. The actual figures are much higher as many cases go unreported in the press. Along with the direct consequences, death and injury, Cambodian women also suffered from indirect consequences such as: becoming widow, having the feeling of fear, being main responsible for earning income to support other family members after the beloved husbands have been victimised in gun incidents.
The public discussion both in Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham aimed at increasing the understanding among the participating women about gun related issues, and to offer opportunities for women to discuss together about the consequences of gun violence upon themselves and other women, especially to explore strategies to best address the gun-related issues and their consequences on women in Cambodian.
The public discussion in Phnom Penh brought together 130 female participants from Cambodian legislative branch, government institutions, security related officials, media agents, university students and teachers, and local and international civil society organisations.
The WGWR public discussion in Kampong Cham province was also successfully organised. Some 50 female villagers and local authorities attended in the discussion. Also, 94 petition cards for supporting Arms Control, and some 97 supporting signatures for urging the National Assembly to soon approve the National Arms Law were collected during both public discussions.
Participants, legislative branch representatives, guest speakers, local authorities and media agents have supported this campaign by providing their appropriate means of support through a supportive committee with the hope to reduce and eliminate gun violence and its consequences in the communities, particularly on Cambodian women. Furthermore, they called for the following recommendations.
· Awareness-raising related campaigns for stopping gun violence should be implemented country-wide both in urban and rural areas to increase the understanding of the general public, especially the women as well as drawing them to be actively more involved in eradicating gun violence;
· The government should firmly work to stop all illegal arms trade;
· The government should organise workshops or seminars to raise the awareness of members of armed forces about the Arms Law and other small arms related issues;
· The government, particularly competent and local authorities should increase concrete measures to ensure security for people at the community.
· Knowledge related to guns and gun violence should be integrated at the public schools, since the primary schools;
· The Cambodian Parliament should approve the submitted Arms Law as soon as possible;
· The court should strictly punish the gun violence perpetrators/belligerents regardless their social status;
· Local and international NGOs should work closely with the government to run awareness-raising related activities such as public discussion, seminars, workshops both at commune and national levels countrywide and encourage more women to participate actively in those activities;
· The Cambodian people, especially women, should cooperate closely with the government, particularly the local authorities to curb the gun violence in Cambodia;
· Parents or spouses should educate as well as consult with their children and husbands about gun violence and other small arms issues.
