The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (“CEDAW”) is the most detailed international treaty on women’s human rights and is often described as the international bill of rights for women. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (“the Committee”) is a body of 23 independent experts on women’s rights that monitors implementation of CEDAW by countries who have ratified the treaty. The Royal Government of Cambodia ratified CEDAW in 1992 and in 2010 ratified the Option Protocol to CEDAW.

State Parties, including Cambodia, are required to submit reports to the Committee every 4 years on how the country is implementing the rights under the CEDAW. Cambodia has several obligations under CEDAW, including adopting appropriate legislation to prohibit discrimination against women, ensuring effective protection of women from discrimination, ensuring equality in the public and private sectors, and abolishing existing laws, regulations, or customs which discriminate against women. The Committee last reviewed Cambodia in November 2019 and should review Cambodia again in 2023.