Understand about the situation of children in Cambodia
We must help them !
Country Information:
Cambodia's population is 13.6 million (2005 est).Children/Youth in Cambodia: 61 per cent of the population is under the age of 18 (Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey 2004). Under-5 mortality rate: 143 death/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Street Children in Cambodia:
Everyday in Cambodia there are approximately 14,000 to 24,000 street children. In the capital of Phnom Penh, there are over 20,000 children living and/or working on the streets. In Siem Reap and around Angkor Temples, 1,500 children live and work on the streets. And nearly 1,000 children live and work on the streets and beaches of Sihanoukville.
Risks faced in Cambodia:
Child Rights abuses, HIV/AIDS, exploitation including sexual abuse, drug and alcohol issues. PovertyAccording to official statistics, 35% of the population in Cambodia lives below the poverty line (1800 Riel / USD 0.45 per person, per day). However, with more than 80% of the population living in rural areas, this percentage could be higher.
Approximately 90% of the poor live in the rural areas with the highest poverty rates found among households headed by farmers and those where the breadwinner has little or no formal education. Crop failures, weather conditions, environmental degradation, health problems, landlessness and lack of access to land make families very vulnerable. Lack of opportunities such as poor access to assets, education and skills training, lack of infrastructure and inadequate farming technology are among the reasons behind poverty.
Abuse
Though it is also widespread in high social classes, increased violence against women, rape, domestic violence and trafficking of women and children might be symptomatic of poverty and may also be symptoms of a postwar stress reaction and for many the only solution to handle their stressful life.
Education
The cost of public education (registration fees, uniforms, supplies, mandatory private lessons) prevents many families from sending their children to school. These children then spend most of their time unsupervised either loitering or working to earn an income.
HIV/AIDS
The Cambodia Ministry of Health announced in June 2007 the official HIV estimate prevalence at 0.9% among adults.
UNCEF estimates there are some 12 000 children living with AIDS in Cambodia, with many having lost one or both of their parents to the disease. With a rising AIDS death toll, it is projected that HIV/AIDS will account for one in four orphans in Cambodia, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive planning to mitigate the impact of HIV on children.
HIV/AIDS is an important factor contributing to the increase in the number of children, who are either orphaned or affected by the disease, working and living on the streets. As parents become ill, they are increasingly unable to provide for the family. Children have to work to supplement the family income, largely through undertaking menial jobs on the streets. Street Children
All these factors have lead to increased urban migration and therefore an increase in the population of street living children, street working children and street living families.Urban poverty forces many children to work in order to supplement the family’s income.There are many jobs children on the streets undertake: very young children work as scavengers, beggars or vendors. Older street children, often drug addicts perform illegal and physically challenging work such as construction work, drug dealing, sex work or selling their blood. The migration of children towards large cities is increasing, generating a high number of young migrants arriving in Phnom Penh.
Tourism
About 1 million tourists visit the country each year and this number is increasing rapidly. Most come for the beauty of the country, but some come to exploit Cambodia’s hospitality. Sex tourism, from western and Asian countries, has been an important issue in the last years – many different organizations and the government are working on preventing this horrible development.
There has been significant improvements in the enforcement of these laws. Travelers often unknowingly and unwillingly increase the vulnerability of street children. By feeling pity, giving money and food, child labor on the streets – a growing business – is supported and the children are sustained on the streets.
(Child Safe International)
Cambodia's population is 13.6 million (2005 est).Children/Youth in Cambodia: 61 per cent of the population is under the age of 18 (Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey 2004). Under-5 mortality rate: 143 death/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Street Children in Cambodia:
Everyday in Cambodia there are approximately 14,000 to 24,000 street children. In the capital of Phnom Penh, there are over 20,000 children living and/or working on the streets. In Siem Reap and around Angkor Temples, 1,500 children live and work on the streets. And nearly 1,000 children live and work on the streets and beaches of Sihanoukville.
Risks faced in Cambodia:
Child Rights abuses, HIV/AIDS, exploitation including sexual abuse, drug and alcohol issues. PovertyAccording to official statistics, 35% of the population in Cambodia lives below the poverty line (1800 Riel / USD 0.45 per person, per day). However, with more than 80% of the population living in rural areas, this percentage could be higher.
Approximately 90% of the poor live in the rural areas with the highest poverty rates found among households headed by farmers and those where the breadwinner has little or no formal education. Crop failures, weather conditions, environmental degradation, health problems, landlessness and lack of access to land make families very vulnerable. Lack of opportunities such as poor access to assets, education and skills training, lack of infrastructure and inadequate farming technology are among the reasons behind poverty.
Abuse
Though it is also widespread in high social classes, increased violence against women, rape, domestic violence and trafficking of women and children might be symptomatic of poverty and may also be symptoms of a postwar stress reaction and for many the only solution to handle their stressful life.
Education
The cost of public education (registration fees, uniforms, supplies, mandatory private lessons) prevents many families from sending their children to school. These children then spend most of their time unsupervised either loitering or working to earn an income.
HIV/AIDS
The Cambodia Ministry of Health announced in June 2007 the official HIV estimate prevalence at 0.9% among adults.
UNCEF estimates there are some 12 000 children living with AIDS in Cambodia, with many having lost one or both of their parents to the disease. With a rising AIDS death toll, it is projected that HIV/AIDS will account for one in four orphans in Cambodia, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive planning to mitigate the impact of HIV on children.
HIV/AIDS is an important factor contributing to the increase in the number of children, who are either orphaned or affected by the disease, working and living on the streets. As parents become ill, they are increasingly unable to provide for the family. Children have to work to supplement the family income, largely through undertaking menial jobs on the streets. Street Children
All these factors have lead to increased urban migration and therefore an increase in the population of street living children, street working children and street living families.Urban poverty forces many children to work in order to supplement the family’s income.There are many jobs children on the streets undertake: very young children work as scavengers, beggars or vendors. Older street children, often drug addicts perform illegal and physically challenging work such as construction work, drug dealing, sex work or selling their blood. The migration of children towards large cities is increasing, generating a high number of young migrants arriving in Phnom Penh.
Tourism
About 1 million tourists visit the country each year and this number is increasing rapidly. Most come for the beauty of the country, but some come to exploit Cambodia’s hospitality. Sex tourism, from western and Asian countries, has been an important issue in the last years – many different organizations and the government are working on preventing this horrible development.
There has been significant improvements in the enforcement of these laws. Travelers often unknowingly and unwillingly increase the vulnerability of street children. By feeling pity, giving money and food, child labor on the streets – a growing business – is supported and the children are sustained on the streets.
(Child Safe International)