A woman looks at information pamphlet at a workshop on Violence Against Children in Banteay Srei primary school in Siem Reap province in April. PLAN INTERNATIONAL CAMBODIA
World Vision's Child Protection Project estimates that it has benefited 355,000 people and stakeholders in Cambodia over the course of one year. A World Vision official said that violence against children (VAC) in Cambodia appeared to be declining, but remained a concern.
Several years ago, World Vision Cambodia began implementing projects related to the protection of children, especially to end all forms of VAC, after studies of the problem determined that figures for the Kingdom were relatively high.
Chhim Ratana, the Nonviolent Campaign Manager of World Vision Cambodia, said on July 18 that due to the high figures for VAC, World Vision had implemented a number of projects including the project “Non-Violence Model Campaign: You Can Do, I Can Do” which aimed at ending VAC – especially physical or corporal punishment of children by parents and teachers.
“We do programmes in 33 towns and districts in the capital and 8 provinces and 150,000 children have benefited from those projects,” she said.
She added that according to a national survey on VAC conducted in 2013 by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, more than 75 per cent of children had suffered some form of violence at least once before they reached the age of 18.
However, a new study conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2021 founded that the figure had declined to around 60 per cent who said that they had suffered violent punishment before they reached the age of 18.
Ratana said that when comparing the 2013 findings and the 2021 findings, the amount of VAC appears to have declined, but she said that 60 per cent was still a very high rate overall and the problem remained a concern.
"It's lower than it used to be, but the problem demands a lot of work and participation by all relevant sides to eliminate all VAC,” she said.
The report said that VAC had extremely negative impacts on them over the long-term in areas like personal welfare, behaviour and their ability to achieve their potential. The report claimed that other impacts included poor learning, poor health, problems in searching for jobs and with social relationships.
Ratana said that the public must give children a positive environment and opportunities in order for them to succeed in life. She called on parents or teachers to change their behaviour and stop using violence as a way to discipline children and use positive education instead.
Ministry of Women's Affairs spokesperson Man Chenda could not be reached for comment on July 18.
