The Cambodian women rising up to protect their communal land

Born into a fishing family in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province, Chan Kimcheng swims with a grace shaped by living her entire life by the water.

Kimcheng (pictured above, right), is among the women in the fishing community of Trapaeng Pris who are rising up to protect their communal land and its delicate ecosystem from encroachment. By carrying out regular patrols of its borders, they’re standing up to the private landowners, illegal loggers and fishers that threaten their way of life, as well as to the climate crisis, which has made the area more vulnerable to forest fires.

The area was once home to 50 freshwater ponds – sources of drinking water, food and a livelihood to those nearby – but only one remains after the rest were destroyed in the name of private development. Local people have traditionally caught fish, searched for bees and honey and gathered Jorjoch plants and wild mushrooms on the ponds. They were once rich with wildlife including snakes, turtles and Kork water birds.

“It is rare to find collectively owned land with such rich natural resources,” Kimcheng told Positive News. “We must protect this place for future generations.”

Alongside others in the network of ‘women champions’ and community committees, she is working to be awarded an official land certificate, which will properly delineate the borders of their land.

“She feels safer in the water than on the land,” observed Cambodian photographer Sophal Neak, who captured this shot of Kimcheng swimming alongside her fellow campaigner Yung Chin on the one remaining pond. “Kimcheng she told me that when she floats in the water, she feels like she’s free.”

Like many of those who are involved, Kimcheng faces threats from those who see her work as defying traditional expectations for women. “For me,” said Neak, “that is also represented in the image, in the floating: it looks beautiful, but it also looks like danger.”

Chin said the experience had given her a surge of confidence. “In the past, we women didn’t engage in social work. Back then, I was too afraid to speak, terrified of making a mistake, but now I can confidently talk with senior management.” Of the community’s efforts, the photographer, Neak, added: “If you don’t protect this area, it will be gone. I feel like they are real heroes.”

This image is part of Women by Women, a photography exhibition by the charity ActionAid, which is designed to celebrate women behind and in front of the camera. It ran at London’s Gallery@Oxo from 9-12 October