Harrison White
Cambodia’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, has called for stronger investment in women’s leadership, digital skills and institutional reform, describing gender equality as an economic and national development priority for Cambodia and the wider ASEAN community.
Speaking at the “50 Khmer Women Voices 2026” event at TWG Tea Salon & Boutique in Phnom Penh on September 5, Dr. Ing said leadership begins not with a formal title or permission from others, but with individuals recognizing their value and transforming ideas into action.
“Women’s leadership is not merely a women’s issue, but a development imperative, an economic necessity and a national priority for the ASEAN community,” she told participants.
The high-level gathering brought together women from Cambodia’s business, government and civil-society communities for networking, discussion and leadership development.
Five Priorities for Advancing Women’s Leadership
During her remarks, Dr. Ing identified five areas requiring continued attention to expand leadership opportunities for women and girls:
- STEM, Financial and Digital Literacy: Building the technical and financial capabilities women need to participate in a rapidly changing economy.
- Confidence and Self-Ownership: Encouraging women to recognize their abilities, take responsibility and pursue leadership opportunities.
- Mentorship, Sponsorship and Solidarity: Developing stronger networks that connect emerging women leaders with experienced mentors and advocates.
- Institutional Reform: Addressing structural barriers that restrict women’s participation and advancement.
- Accountability and Gender-Disaggregated Data: Using reliable information to measure progress and ensure commitments translate into results.
Dr. Ing said women must be represented not only as participants, but as decision-makers, technology innovators, entrepreneurs, peacebuilders and architects of the region’s shared future.
Her message highlighted the importance of both individual confidence and institutional responsibility. While women should be supported to pursue leadership roles, organizations and policymakers must also create environments in which they can participate equally and progress professionally.
More Than Two Decades of Ministerial Leadership
Dr. Ing was reappointed Minister of Women’s Affairs and Chairwoman of the Cambodian National Council for Women in August 2023. She has held both positions since 2004, overseeing the ministry’s work on gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and women’s participation in leadership.
Before becoming minister, she served as Secretary of State for Women’s and Veterans’ Affairs from 1998 to 2004.
Under her leadership, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has worked to integrate women’s priorities into government policies, national reforms and Cambodia’s legal framework.
The ministry has also supported the implementation of international conventions and agreements relating to gender equality and helped institutionalize gender mainstreaming across national and subnational levels of government.
Advancing Gender Equality Through Policy and Law
The ministry has contributed to incorporating gender considerations into major legislation and reform processes, including Cambodia’s Land Law and its decentralization and deconcentration framework.
It has also supported laws intended to prevent violence and exploitation, including the Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation and the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Victims.
Dr. Ing has continued to advocate for women’s economic empowerment and stronger female participation in public and private-sector leadership as Cambodia’s economy and institutions evolve.
Her remarks at the “50 Khmer Women Voices 2026” gathering positioned women’s advancement as a shared responsibility involving government, businesses, civil society, communities and women themselves.
In closing, Dr. Ing called for collective action to create a future in which every woman and girl in Cambodia and across ASEAN can learn equally, participate without fear and lead without apology.
50 Khmer Women Voices 2026
The full publication and complete list of featured women are available to download as a free PDF here: https://cambodiainvestmentreview.com/2026/07/16/cambodia-leadership-review-launches-inaugural-edition-of-khmer-women-voices-2026/
