Senate President and Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) leader Hun Sen has issued a call for greater female representation within the country’s political landscape. During an August 14, 2026, meeting with the National Council for Women of Cambodia, he emphasized the necessity of placing women in electable positions ahead of the upcoming commune and sangkat council elections.
Hun Sen highlighted the link between economic empowerment and political participation, noting that 49% of women have undergone government-organized vocational training. He advocated for improved infrastructure, such as student housing, to support women’s education and professional development. Currently, women hold 176 commune chief positions compared to approximately 1,400 held by men. The CPP president expressed a desire to see at least one woman elected in every commune and proposed a long-term goal of having women comprise 50% of commune clerks by 2050.
The push for gender parity has drawn reactions from election monitoring groups. Sonket Sereyleak, an education and gender coordinator at Comfrel, welcomed the focus on electable positions but described the 2050 target as “too distant.” She pointed to current statistics showing that women occupy only 10.5% of commune chief roles and 22% of commune council seats. At the national level, women hold 14.4% of parliamentary seats and 10% of ministerial positions.
Comfrel is calling for more concrete measures, suggesting that political parties should ensure women occupy the top spot on 50% of candidate lists. Furthermore, the organization recommends that the government establish specific quotas, such as requiring women to hold between 35% and 50% of ministerial roles and at least nine of the 25 provincial governor positions. Sereyleak noted that increasing female leadership is essential for inclusive decision-making and ensuring that the needs of women and girls are addressed in policy development.
Source: CamboJA News
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