In light of the first week of the 37th Session on the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Women’s Commission of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation has revealed encouraging outcomes from the conference. Led by Mrs. Son Thi Nit, the Women’s Commission of KKF has submitted a shadow report to the CEDAW Committee entitled, “Exploring the Roots of Discrimination against Khmer Women in Kampuchea Krom (Vietnam) and recognizing the Rights of CEDAW Now.” The first of its kind for the Khmer-Krom women and CEDAW, the shadow report was extensively researched and compiled by members of the WCKKF in effort to enlighten the CEDAW Committee of the gross human rights violation inflicted by the Vietnamese authorities against the indigenous Khmer-Krom women of the Mekong Delta. For example, Miss. Dao Hai Ngan, aged 15 was raped by a Vietnamese authority in Can Tho and despite appeals by UNPO and KKF, no acknowledgement or action has been initiated by the Vietnamese authorities. This is just one of many examples of the constant horrors that these vulnerable Khmer-Krom women and girls are subjected to under the notorious communist government. On the opening day of the CEDAW Convention, Miss. Hanh Thach, a young Khmer-Krom woman gave an introductory speech to Committee about the invisible women of the Mekong Delta, the Khmer-Krom women, found to be amongst the most socially and economically disadvantaged peoples in Vietnam. A historic moment for the Khmer-Krom people and especially so for the women, the CEDAW Convention is opening doors for the Khmer-Krom women by providing them with an active voice to demand their long overdue fundamental rights and freedoms. Since Vietnam signed the CEDAW treaty in 1982, its internal oppression of its indigenous and ethnic minorities has seen little development in the areas of promoting women rights. Unsurprisingly, little to none is aware that such a Convention exists to help them combat discrimination based on their gender and ethnic origin. On Tuesday 16th January, the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation organized a side event for the members of CEDAW Committee to meet the Khmer-Krom women. The six Committee members, including the representatives from India took up this unique opportunity to meet Mrs. Nit and other Khmer-Krom women about the lack support of women rights for their people. After learning the truth of indigenous Khmer-Krom women and daily struggle and hardships, the Committee members have pledged their support in providing a more active voice for the voiceless thousands of Khmer-Krom women who could not make it to the conference. True to their words, the issue of ethnic and indigenous women became a much debated topic after Vietnam gave its combined Fifth and Six National report covering that country’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women to the CEDAW Committee on Wednesday 17th January 2007. Led by Mrs. Mme Ha Thi Khiet, Chairperson of the National Committee for the Advance of Women in Vietnam and Head of the Vietnamese Delegation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were also accompanied by nine other member delegates. Following Vietnam’s report, the floor was then opened for dialogue to the 23-member CEDAW Committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against women. While Vietnam was praised for its efforts in passing the gender equity law in 2006, Ms. Hazel Gumede Shelton, a distinguished member of the CEDAW committee posed some questions in relation to how the law would affect ethnic minority women. In particular, she questioned Vietnam about how ethnic women are respected in terms of getting education. Ms. Shelton was amongst numerous Committee members posing some important questions about Vietnam’s effort in helping ethnic minority and indigenous women. Previous national reports from Vietnam have been given little to no priority to ethnic and indigenous women. In fact, the fate of thousands of Khmer-Krom women living below the poverty line was not even mentioned despite the fact that the issues of the Khmer-Krom women was first highlighted at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Third Session in 2004. During the morning and afternoon session, members of the CEDAW Committee requested Vietnam to focus on improving the lives of ethnic and indigenous women by educating them about their rights under the CEDAW Convention including translating the CEDAW articles into the Khmer and other ethnic minority languages. Only through educating the women about their rights, can these women begin to make informed decisions about their life without fear or discrimination from the Vietnamese government. The underlying support from the CEDAW committee is offering a glimmer of hope for the thousands of Khmer-Krom women living in the Mekong Delta. Often used and abused, their voices are finally being heard at the United Nations despite the severe suppression by the communist government to incorporate and Vietnaminised the Khmer-Krom women into mainstream society. 
Please contact our KKF Women Commissioner for further information and support their work to P.O.BOX 0193 PENNSAUKEN, NJ 08110 or email: help@khmerkrom.org KKF Shadow Report to CEDAW Read morning & afternoon session notes by the General Assembly
