HIGHLIGHTS
- Quality services for persons with disabilities and survivors of gender-based violence.
- Collaboration with Royal Government of Cambodia and civil society partners.
- Policy and system reforms at national level and in four target provinces.
PROJECT
Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services Phase 2 (ACCESS 2)
The Challenge
One in four people in Cambodia have a disability or conditions that require rehabilitation support or assistive devices such as prosthetic limbs. This high number is due to injuries from landmines, traffic accidents, and non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes.
Yet Cambodia’s rehabilitation services are often fragmented, lack resources, and aren’t integrated with the broader public health system. Understanding of the rights of people with disabilities and requirements for reasonable accommodations is often limited. Additionally, many people with disabilities do not know how to access the government’s social protection mechanisms.
At the same time, one in five women in Cambodia has experienced gender-based violence (GBV). Women and girls with disabilities are three times more likely to experience GBV than those without. They face complex barriers to accessing GBV and justice programs, including attitudinal, physical and communication barriers.
The Approach
The Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services Phase 2 (ACCESS 2) partners with the Royal Government of Cambodia and civil society organisations to improve the quality of services for people with disabilities and survivors of GBV.
This Australian Government program is guided by Cambodia’s National Action Plan for Violence Against Women (NAPVAW) and National Disability Strategic Plan (NDSP). The program engages with sub-national authorities to integrate GBV services and disability inclusion into provincial plans and budgets.
Activities include interventions at the national level and across four target provinces (Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu and Ratanakiri). For people with disabilities this includes physical rehabilitation, inclusive public services and assistance to access social protection. For women affected by GBV, the program targets health care, legal protection and other critical social services.
The Results
ACCESS 2 helps the government link data on people with disabilities with the social protection system to improve their access to services. ACCESS 2 also supports partners to establish new prosthesis and orthosis units and expand rehabilitation services in hospitals.
Through its partners, ACCESS 2 is making counselling, legal and health services available to GBV survivors. The program also helps to establish institutional mechanisms to support GBV survivors, such as GBV Response Working Groups and counselling rooms.
Learn more about ACCESS 2: ACCESS 2 Cambodia – Sustainable Quality Services for All