Costing Support Services for Survivors of Violence Against Women in Cambodia

Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread violations of human rights worldwide.  It takes place in every country, both in situations of conflict and crisis and in times of peace and prosperity.  It can happen anywhere, and it affects women and girls regardless of age, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.  In Cambodia, violence within the family is directly related to violence in society at large. Unequal relationships between men and women, and misunderstandings about the rights, roles and duties of family members can cause conflict and lead to violence. The prevalence of Violence Against Women in Cambodia has had devastating implications not only for survivors of violence, but also for society as a whole. A growing body of research has attempted to quantify in monetary terms, the impact of Violence Against Women. This study presents the qualitative findings from the SIPA Team’s fieldwork as well as quantitative findings of a pilot costing methodology designed to estimate the unit direct costs for a set of three critical response services: shelters, psychosocial services, and hotlines. In addition to the results of piloting the methodology, the methodology itself and template for systematizing data is an outcome of the Team’s research.