Phnom penh: The National Assembly has met with representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women to organise a "model parliament" programme aimed at helping women and girls take up political leadership roles. This programme will train women and girls from the general public and women serving as village chiefs, commune chiefs, or members of commune/Sangkat councils in public speaking, legislative drafting, and policy debate. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Hon. Lork Kheng - Chairwoman of the National Assembly Commission on Health, Social Affairs, Veterans, Youth Rehabilitation, Labor, Vocational Training, and Women's Affairs - discussed the programme on Friday with UNFPA Country Representative Ms. Sandra Bernklau and UN Women Country Programme Coordinator Ms. Khun Sopheary. The Honourable Member expressed satisfaction with the initiative and urged the UN agencies to prepare a detailed plan, including the programme agenda, expenses, meals, and accommodation for the selected women and girls from all 25 provinces and the capital. She stressed that Cambodian lawmakers had been addressing the issue of gender inequality for many years, highlighting the need to build courage, confidence, and capacity among women and girls for the benefit of their communities and the entire nation. Hon. Lork Kheng added that achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 was impossible without complete peace. In this regard, she urged UNFPA and UN Women to help prepare a report proposing sincere cooperation from Thailand to resolve border issues and restore bilateral relations to normalcy for the mutual benefit of the peoples of both countries.
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