AKP Phnom Penh, August 14, 2026 -- President of the Senate and President of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, has called for greater participation of women in local government and urged political parties to ensure that female candidates are placed in winnable positions in upcoming commune and Sangkat council elections.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the Cambodian National Council for Women this morning at the Senate’s Solidarity Palace, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the CPP should ensure that at least one woman is elected to each commune council, while also encouraging the placement of female candidates on provincial, municipal and district council lists.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen said that although mechanisms are already in place to promote women’s participation at the provincial and district levels, including provisions for at least one female deputy governor, women remain underrepresented at the commune level.

“I have visited 23 of the 25 provinces and cities, and I have observed that women are still largely absent from the commune level,” he said. “Some places have women on the election lists, but they are placed in rank that they are not winnable. The overall principle now is that each commune should have at least one woman elected.”.

As President of the CPP, Samdech Techo instructed the party to ensure that women were placed in rank likely to win seats in the forthcoming commune and Sangkat council elections, which are scheduled to take place next year.

At the same time, he encouraged women to compete for positions as commune clerks and announced a long-term target of having women account for 50 percent of commune clerks by 2050.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the number of female commune clerks remains relatively low and that greater efforts are needed to provide women with opportunities to participate in public administration and contribute to national development.

“I encourage our women to compete for the positions of commune clerks,” he said.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also called on all political parties to provide more opportunities for women as CPP to stand as election candidates, while emphasising that candidates should receive training and be capable of serving their communities.

By Heng Panha