Australia to help Cambodian women against violence

Australia will put 24 million Australian dollars (almost 24.6 million USD) over five years to help women in Cambodia against violence, Foreign Minister Bob Carr announced in a statement Friday, the International Women's Day. This funding for the Ending Violence Against Women program will deliver emergency medical treatment, counseling, safe places to stay and legal services. According to him, one-in-three women worldwide are beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. And women who have experienced violence in Cambodia often lack access to critical services including counseling and legal support and many do not have access to safe shelter. Carr said violence against women is unacceptable which is why Australia's aid program is also starting new programs to promote gender equality and tackle violence against women in Afghanistan, Indonesia and the Pacific. Over the next 10 years, the 320 million Australian dollars ( almost 328.12 million USD) Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative, declared by Prime Minister Gillard at the Pacific Islands Forum last year, will include support for more than 150,000 women who have experienced violence.