DESPITE four years of peace, Cambodian children still face staggering problems with their childhood blighted by exploitation, poor education, high mortality rates and HIV/Aids, a key report said on Wednesday.
In its annual report, Save the Children Norway (SCN) said poverty, combined with the lack of a social safety net, had exposed a large number of children to exploitation.
It found 35% of Cambodian sex workers were under 18-years-old and nearly half were infected with HIV and there was a growing number of Cambodian babies born to HIV positive mothers.
”In 2003, nearly one million people, including 300 000 children, will have been affected by the social, economic and health consequences of the epidemic,” SCN said.
Enrolment figures at primary school level had improved to 83,8% in 2001 from 77,8% in 1998, however, only 52% of primary schools offer a full six grades and only a small number proceed to secondary school.
In 2001, just 16,6% of children were enrolled at secondary school.
The figures take on greater importance due to Cambodia’s changing demographics with the end of nearly three decades of war contributing to a baby boom.
Of Cambodia’s 12-million people, 54% are under the age of 18 and SCN noted: ”Cambodia still has the highest infant mortality rates in Southeast Asia and the rates have been increasing in recent years.
”Communities are struggling with poverty. Individuals, families and children are forced to migrate to towns to find jobs.”
A consequence of this is increased drug use in urban areas, human trafficking, and children who drop out of school are abused and exposed to violence.
However, SCN found the Cambodian government was making increased attempts to tackle the problem with improved spending on education and health, and a focus on poverty reduction.
SCN also said it would change its focus over the period 2002 to 2005.
”The focus is on village scale prevention to protect children at risk of violence, sexual abuse or trafficking,” the report said. ? AFP
