Triple Jeopardy

Gender-based violence, disability, rights violations and access to related services among women in Cambodia

Partners: Monash University, the CBM-Nossal Institute Partnership in Disability and Development, Banteay Srei, Cambodian Disability People’s Organisation

Funding source: AusAID – Australian Development Research Awards

Issue: Cambodian women with disabilities (WWDs) experience multiple disadvantages resulting from the interplay between gender, disability and poverty. Disability markedly increases gender-based violence (GBV) risk, and is also a potential outcome of violence. Consequently, WWDs are more vulnerable to adverse physical and mental health outcomes but face exclusion from appropriate services.

Outline: This two-year participatory research project, developed collaboratively by IWDA and our partners, investigates experiences of GBV among WWDs, assesses levels of inclusion in related policies and programs, and explores barriers and facilitators in existing programs and supports. In this first year, field researchers received specialist training on interviewing women and WWDs on sensitive issues including violence against women. They completed 221 surveys with women and WWDs, 15 in-depth interviews with WWDs who have experienced violence plus a number of focus group discussions and key informant interviews.

Results expected: By the end of the research, partners will have developed and piloted low-cost training and inclusion tools appropriate for the Cambodian context and compiled evidence to influence the policies and practices of services addressing violence against women.

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