Canodia

Vulnerable Children

The children of Cambodia are some of the most vulnerable in the world. They suffer extreme poverty, abuse and little protection from their government. Many are trapped in a world of poverty trying to survive by begging from the International tourists. The reality for many children in Cambodia is the following.

• Of Cambodia’s total population of 14.0 million, around 5.1 million (49.5%) are children under 18 years old and about 18% of children aged 5 to 17 years old are economically active. The average age at which a working child first starts working is 10.4 years.
• According to UNICEF and NGO reports, it is estimated that between 25% and 35% of commercial sec workers in the country are minors. Many young Cambodian girls are trafficked into Thai brothels every year, where they are subject to appalling working conditions amounting to sexual slavery. Substantial numbers of young girls from Vietnam, some as young as 9 or 10 years old, are trafficked into Cambodia to work in the brothels.
• Cambodia has a long history of child soldiers, especially under the Khmer Rouge. But, even today hundreds of children between 10 and 15 years are being conscripted tin the north-western provinces. Soldiers demand 5,000 Riels per child from poor rural families to prevent recruitment into the army: if money is not paid, the boys are taken away.
• Over 400 children aged 5 to 17 are working at the Phnom Penh garbage dump. Only 35% of these children attend school and the majority of them have worked at the dump for over 3 years. They earn $0.50 to $1 per day. Many suffer work related illnesses.
• There is little regulation of the industrial sector in Cambodia, leading to employment of many children in small industries such as fish processing and brick factories. Many children suffer severe injuries such as loss of limbs in factory accidents.
• There are many street children in Cambodia. It’s estimated that there are 10,000 to 15,000 in Phnom Penh alone. Many of these children come from the provinces to assist with family income or to flee violence and poverty at home. More than two-thirds of these children have lost at least one parent. Many children are orphaned by Aids.

Source: Royal University of Phnom Penh

Many children in Cambodia don’t have any form of childhood. They suffer for the most basic needs of food, shelter, health care, education and protection from the sex-traders and pimps.
They are so very vulnerable. They need our help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are “street children”?
What are “street living children”?
What are “street working children”?
What are “children of street living families”?
Why do children become “street children”?
How do “street children” survive?
Why do children work at the garbage dump?
Why do children enter the sex trade?
How can we help these children?

Answers

What are street children?
They are children under the age of 18 years old who spend most of their time on the streets.
What are street living children?
These are children who cut ties with their families and live alone on the streets. Many children may leave their families at a young age, because of physical and emotional abuse. It is estimated that there are approximately 1,200 of these children in Phnom Penh alone. They are mostly between the ages of 12 and 18 years old. 20% of them are girls.
What are street working children?
These are children who spend most of their time working on the streets to provide income for their families or for themselves. These children have a home to return to and do not usually sleep on the streets. It is estimated that there are approximately 10,000 of these children in Phnom Penh alone. They are mostly between the ages of 6 to 15 years old. 50% of them are girls.
What are children of street living families?
There are children who live with their family on the streets. It is estimated that there are approximately 500 to 1,500 children. They are of all ages. 50% are girls.
Why do children become “Street Children”?
There are many reasons that children leave their homes. There are problems within their family or marital breakdown. They suffer extreme poverty and cannot survive in their current situation. They become orphaned because of accident or illness. There is severe abuse at home.

How do “street children” survive?

Many street children beg on the streets from morning to night. Many children find casual work picking rubbish out of garbage bins. Some children steal. These children often stick together, in groups of two or three, looking out for each other. Many children find their own escape from street life through glue-sniffing and other drugs.

Why do children work at the garbage dump?

• Their families work at the dump and it’s the only life they know
• They are orphaned on the streets and need to earn money — the dump can help feed them
• They come from the country side and have no opportunity to work in the city
• It is a place where they can find some material goods that they need (i.e. clothes, shoes, toys)

Why do children enter the sex trade?

• They are sold to brothels by their parents that seek money to survive
• They are tricked by adults that offer them a better life
• They need money to feed themselves and their families
• They are taken and enslaved by adults

How can we help these children?

• Provide them with food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, love, protection and basic rights
• Provide them an opportunity for a career outside of begging
• Prevent conflict within their family
• Reduce poverty in the communities and homes
• Reduce the spread of HIV/AIDs
• Enforce law system to protect them
• Promote their integration into society
• Encourage more programs that support them
• Promote child rights

Web Links

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights