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Cambodia

Children in prison: No place to grow up

01/02/2007: Nearly 500 children are currently detained in Cambodia’s prisons. For these children, the prisons they call “home” are overcrowded, unhygienic and lacking in basic facilities. Many are detained with adults, they are regularly held in pre-trial detention that exceeds the legal time limit, and many are sentenced to prison time without any regard to their age. A coalition of local and international groups has called on the government to pass legislation to protect the children.

© LICADHO

The children in Cambodian prisons suffer the same poor living conditions, food rations and health provisions as the detained adults, and they have very limited access to education, training and legal representation.

Local and international human rights organisations have criticised the way children are treated in Cambodia's justice system and has now called on the government to pass legislation to protect the children.

Children and minor should be properly protected

Children and minors should be protected in legal and labour institutions. They should be protected against dangerous work, e.g. prostitution and unregulated industrial work. And they should have access to legal representation and their interests should be protected by government and authorities at all levels!

Reports on children's rights in Cambodia

LAC and LICADHO have launched two reports dealing with children in the Cambodian criminal justice system and in particular children in prison.

Download report:

Children's Rights in Cambodia 357.53 kB

Read more: LICADHO: Juvenile in prison

This is what DanChurchAid works for in a joint project called 'Securing Children's Rights' with its two Cambodian partners LAC and LICADHO .

On January 31, 2007, the three organisations launched the campaign "Children in Prison – No Place To Grow Up", which will run until International Children’s Day on June 1, 2007.

Protection, fairness and hope

The children need to be given protection, fairness and hope - not injustice, neglect and despair.

The need for reform is clear

The coalition of the two local partners and DanChurchAid will advocate for the implementation of existing laws relating to juvenile justice and legal and social reforms relating to detention specifically for juveniles. During the next five months, there will be a variety of advocacy activities related to the campaign.

For further information, please contact Regional Representative
Ms Cecilie Bjoernskov Johansen, cbj@dca.dk .

The Securing Children’s Rights project is co-funded by the European Union . The project is implemented by LAC , LICADHO and DanChurchAid. The Securing Children’s Rights project operates in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Battambang, Siem Reap, Kandal and Kampot provinces. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union.