Cambodia Mine Action

by Kate Burrell, Cambodia Program Manager

In Cambodia IWDA has commenced groundbreaking work placing gender at the centre of an AusAID funded mine action project.

Working with World Vision Australia/Cambodia and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), IWDA is contributing its gender expertise to the Community Strengthening and Gender Mainstreaming Integrated Mine Action project as part of an Australia- Cambodia Cooperation Agreement (ACCA).


Many might wonder what does gender have to do with landmines? What could be the gender implications for responding to one of the world’s cruellest weapons?

IWDA is leading internationally in the area of gender and landmines and was contracted to develop the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Gender Guidelines for Mine Action Projects.

In Cambodia around 70% of people physically affected by landmines are young men, who are more at risk of walking into heavily mined areas because of their roles as herders and farmers. A man’s disfiguration tends not to limit his marriage options while it severely reduces women’s marriage and employment prospects. Extra burden is placed on women after their husbands are injured, as they take on the role of primary carers and girls are more likely to be withdrawn from school to become wage-earners.

As the Cambodia Program Manager I had the opportunity to travel with IWDA Executive Director Suzette Mitchell to the north-east of Cambodia in October 2006, to deliver Gender in Mine Action training with World Vision, CARE, MAG and Austcare staff who are all implementing AusAID projects in Integrated Mine Action. This training took place in Battambang and was targeted at field staff, in order to create an understanding of the gender dimensions to their work in mine clearance, mine risk education, victim assistance and community development.

IWDA also co-chaired the inaugural Gender in Mine Action Reference Group with the government’s Cambodian Mine Action Authority. The large attendance – including representatives from CMAA, MAG, Austcare, CARE, UNDP, World Vision, Handicap International and AusAID – reflects the sector’s desire to learn more about gender issues in mine action

IWDA is very pleased to be working on an exciting project that is breaking new ground and will lead the way for other countries grappling with gender issues in the area of mine action.

photo caption: MAG mine clearing technicians at work.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 15th, 2007 under Cambodia.