Stop the Violence Against Us! Summary Report 2

Author: Dr. Glenn Miles; Varin, S.: Tearfund/World Vision International Resources on Child Rights.

Date: 2006

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The study's findings are presented in two Summary Reports published by Tearfund Cambodia. Summary Report 2 covers children’s perceptions of trafficking, bullying and gang violence involving children. What is the history of 'childhood' in Cambodia? What is the current evidence of trafficking, bullying and gang violence of children in Cambodia? How do trafficking, gang violence, bullying and being a bully affect children? What are considered culturally appropriate/inappropriate touch and forms of violence? What is the current policy and legal framework in Cambodia? Why are children’s views important to understand? Through focus groups and questionnaires, the study examined these questions with special attention to the perspectives of more than 1,300 children aged 12-15 in Cambodia.

Key findings include:

nearly half the children interviewed said they knew other children who had been sold but 92% of them said it was extremely serious for adults to sell children a third of girls and 40.6% of boys said they had been bullied and 44.9% said it was extremely serious
two thirds of children said they had heard of a teenager robbing an adult and 33.4% of girls and 45.2% of boys said they had seen an adult being robbed. A small number (3.4% of girls and 5% of boys) admitted to having robbed an adult themselves.

Some recommendations to the government include:
-The Ministries of Justice and Interior in collaboration with international organisations and NGOs must strengthen and implement laws regarding rape, trafficking and violence against children
-The Ministries of Justice and Interior must treat rape and sexual exploitation as a criminal not a civil matter
-The Ministries of Education, Women's Affairs and Social Affairs in collaboration with Non-Government Organisations and International
-Organisations must facilitate creative training programmes in non-violence for children, taking into consideration their perceptions and misconceptions.
The researchers’ conclusions and recommendations to the Government and civil society are presented in this report, which includes a foreword by the British Ambassador to Cambodia, David Reader.

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