With Upcoming Elections, More Women Needed: Advocate

Pok Nanda, executive director of Women for Prosperity, told “Hello VOA” Thursday that women remain under-represented in local and national leadership, but with commune elections approaching later this year that can change. (Photo: Courtesy of Women for Prosperity (WFP))

Monday, 12 March 2012
Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

“If we look at the number of women in leadership roles, we see that it is still limited.”

Political parties and voters themselves need to put more faith in women leaders, the head of a leading advocacy group says.

Pok Nanda, executive director of Women for Prosperity, told “Hello VOA” Thursday that women remain under-represented in local and national leadership, but with commune elections approaching later this year that can change.

Men Kimseng hosts "Hello VOA" 08 March, 2012

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“There are more women than men [in the country], so democratically, the majority should have a fair proportion of their representatives, so that they can protect women’s interests,” she said. “If we look at the number of women in leadership roles, we see that it is still limited.”

Ten political parties have so far registered to run in the commune elections slated for June 3. National elections will follow in 2013. Women activists are pushing to see women with 30 percent of commune council positions.

But in order for that to happen, women candidates need to be placed at the top of candidacy lists, Pok Nanda said.

Women also need to start their involvement in politics at a younger age, while political parties need to provide them with opportunities to get involved, she said.

“It is true that our society values older and more experienced people, but if we don’t give a chance to the younger ones, we cannot develop quickly,” she said. “Young people nowadays are smart.”