The Kingdom of Cambodia is one of the developing countries that suffered the catastrophic destruction caused by the Pol Pot genocidal regime, which killed millions of people and shattered the nation’s society. Children, in particular, were subjected to all kinds of victimization and torture, costing Cambodia a great deal of human resources. After the liberation on January 7, 1979, the government sought to restore the country from scratch. Along with rebuilding and developing the country, the rights of the people, especially those of children, have been protected and promoted as the nation’s successors, as reflected in the slogans “Children are the bamboo” and “Children are the pillar of the nation.”
The role of the government and stakeholders in the child protection system:
(1) Promoting and raising awareness of the implementation of children’s rights
The Kingdom of Cambodia ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on October 15, 1992. Article 48 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia states that the State guarantees the protection of the rights of the child as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, especially the rights to life, education, protection in times of war, and protection against economic or sexual exploitation. At the same time, the Royal Government has always focused on safeguarding children from any work that could harm their education or endanger their health or well-being. To ensure the best interests of the child, Cambodia has ratified international legal instruments and additional protocols related to children.
(2) Budgeting to support policy implementation
With economic growth increasing every year, the Royal Government raises funds for social, education, health, rural development, agriculture, and other sectors, aiming to improve the well-being of people, especially children, and meet the goals of the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals. Cambodians, especially children, have benefited from peace, political stability, and rapid economic growth at an annual average rate of around 7% over the past two decades. Cambodia’s poverty rate has steadily declined from over 53% in 2004 to around 10% today. Additionally, the benefits of economic growth have been distributed more equitably, as reflected in the reduction of the inequality coefficient from 0.41 in 2007 to 0.29 in 2012, with expectations that this figure will continue to decline in the coming years.
(3) Developing and implementing a child protection legal framework
With growing attention to children’s rights, the Kingdom of Cambodia has enacted several national laws and issued regulations, policies, and national action plans, including mechanisms for child protection, to ensure the full implementation of the principles and regulations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. With a focus on children’s rights and welfare, the Royal Government has also prioritized children’s issues in its economic and social development programs. Competent authorities, such as courts or administrative bodies, have taken steps and issued decisions regarding the rights of children as stipulated in the Convention.
(4) Capacity building and strengthening cooperation with stakeholders
The Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to strengthening cooperation among ministries, institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector in providing child protection services. These services have been enhanced through civil society projects and programs. Over the past two decades, national and international agencies working on children’s issues have made remarkable achievements in advocating for the protection of children, building the capacity of social workers at all levels, and providing direct services to vulnerable children, families, and communities.
