Child protection is an important task that the Royal Government of Cambodia has integrated into the national policy framework across key related sectors in order to protect, strengthen, and promote the rights of children. At the same time, the Kingdom of Cambodia is also a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992 and has continued to implement this convention up to the present. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia states that the State guarantees the protection of children’s rights, especially the right to life, the right to receive education, the right to be protected in situations of war, and the protection against economic or sexual exploitation of children.
To contribute to and ensure child protection in the education sector, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has adopted the Policy on Child Protection in Schools, the Guidelines on Safe Schools, and the Positive Discipline Handbook, among others, with the aim of ensuring that all children receive protection, a safe learning environment, and fair and nurturing support in both public and private schools in accordance with national and international standards.
The Operational Handbook on Child Protection in Schools has been developed with the purpose of promoting the implementation of the Policy on Child Protection in Schools and supporting each school to carry out its work professionally and effectively, including preventing and responding to all forms of violence and exploitation against children, as well as referring children to appropriate support services. This operational handbook will initially be implemented at the primary education level.
