Free 300 Women from Domestic Violence in Cambodia

Sopheap*, 43, is part of the more than 30% of Cambodian women who have experienced physical, sexual, emotional or economic intimate partner violence in their lifetime. However, she is also among the almost 250 women and girls, victims of violence, who have received counselling and case management services from government social workers trained by World Hope International (WHI).

For seven years, Sopheap was constantly afraid of going back home to her husband after working all day in a garment factory. Her husband was extremely violent. And like in many other cases of domestic violence in Cambodia, this aggressive behaviour was usually triggered by her partner’s frequent drinking. Sopheap’s husband remembers those days with regret, “I drank every day. And every time I drank, I would get angry very easily." One day, Sopheap was left unconscious by her husband’s anger. After she recovered, she approached the village chief for help. Only a week later, Chariya*, a WHI-trained social worker, was at their door offering them support.

“During the first session, I found it very difficult because the perpetrator was very aggressive and I felt scared. The victim wasn’t sharing anything and I felt frustrated, but after the third session, everything was smoother. They started talking to each other and expressed feelings they had been suppressing for a long time,” shared Chariya.

After just five sessions of counselling, Sopheap’s husband stopped drinking and started to work hard for his family’s wellbeing. They understood that housework is not only a female task, and that they need to work together for their family to thrive. “Before, when I would come back from the factory, I had to cook and during that time we would always argue with me. Now we share the household responsibilities. He cooks and takes care of our daughters while I am still in the factory,” Sopheap shared. “We work together. We feel happy and we care for each other," expressed Sopheap’s husband proudly.

Today, Sopheap and her husband understand the consequences of violence and the benefits of working together for their family. They are building a new house and Sopheap’s husband was offered to become a ‘village safety volunteer.' This means that he will work together with authorities to report cases of violence against women. Sopheap’s story shows the importance of having professional social support services that are available to every community, and the positive impact of both women and men working together to end violence against women.  

*All names have been changed to protect the individuals’ identities. 

"We have become stronger in sharing and asking for help" expresses Malis* when asked how group therapy, one of the services she received by World Hope International (WHI), has helped her to recover from 30 years of domestic violence and abuse. Malis, a 49-year old Cambodian, a loving mother of six, a brave woman who fought against her country's cultural norms and raised her voice against the threats, abuse and control that her husband imposed on her for years. After her husband started drinking and spending their limited income in brothels, the violence began. He wouldn't even let her work as a village teacher - her dream job- because he was jealous. He believed she was seeing other men. However, Malis built her courage and reported it to the local authorities, who informed WHI's newly trained government social workers. Some months later, Malis' husband was arrested by the police and she started receiving counselling and support to help her recover from her trauma. Through WHI's work and your support, 62 social service providers have been trained to provide adequate legal and psychological support to Malis and more than 200 other women and girls in Cambodia. "When I started working with her she didn't trust me. I tried to apply the skills I was taught by WHI and this helped me gain her trust. Now she is more confident and brave" is how Sopheap*, Malis' government social worker, shares the change she saw in her new client. Other women like Malis have become aware that violence against women is unacceptable, illegal, and that there are available support services for them; they do not have to suffer alone. Mali's husband was sentenced to two years in jail, which has been an important signal to the community, that violence against women is punishable by law. Additionally, Malis has been able to go back to teaching and caring for her children and grandchildren while slowly healing from her past. WHI believes that all women and girls in Cambodia must feel safe and protected in their own communities, able to thrive without fear of violence or hopelessness when seeking for help. Thus, World Hope's Enhancing Responses program works to improve the services available for women and girls and educate communities to protect and respect their rights. *All names in this publication have been changed to protect their identities.