Background
The Ministry of Justice convenes inter-agency consultations to coordinate the legal and procedural framework for referring survivors of gender-based violence to specialized services. The 2016 Guidelines on referral of women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence define procedures for receiving and transferring cases between institutions.
Revision of referral guidance is undertaken to align institutional roles and operational coordination among justice, health, and social service providers. A referral guideline establishes roles for specialized service providers and case managers to ensure continuity of protection, medical, and legal assistance for survivors.
Scope of Application
The 2016 referral Guidelines apply to women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence and to the public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and specialized service providers involved in case reception, referral, and management across Cambodia. The framework targets designated case managers and sectoral service providers responsible for protection, health, psychosocial support, and legal assistance.
Key Provisions or Decisions
On 14 October 2026 Deputy Secretary of State Mao Phirun, representing Secretary of State Paen Sumetha, met with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representatives to consult on reviewing and updating the 2016 Guidelines. The meeting focused on three practical objectives:
- Documenting existing services and procedures for receiving and referring cases between institutions;
- Identifying successful referral practices and the coordination challenges encountered in implementation; and
- Discussing how case managers can address coordination challenges and developing an operational cooperation framework between sectoral specialized service providers and case managers.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Revised referral guidelines will serve as the reference framework for institutions and service providers responsible for managing cases of gender-based violence. Organizations involved in survivor support should align their referral procedures and case-management practices with the updated framework to maintain consistent inter-agency coordination and service continuity.
Official Source
Ministry of Justice Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/mojcambodia/posts/pfbid027MEcd7k2KSeX3tSoRo4jkUkar3yP4B5t2BL7sCWturYz9QbHbSff4PsvvwTHoEk7l
