Cambodia
Full country name: Kingdom of Cambodia
Area: 181,035 square kilometre.
Population: 10.2 million (growth rate 2.5%)
Capital city: Phnom Penh (population one million)
People: 90-95% ethnic Khmers plus ethnic Chinese, Cham and Vietnamese
Languages: Khmer, French and English
Religion: 95% Buddhist, and also Muslim and animist
Current Focus and Concerns
A long period of civil and regional wars, and a brutal Khmer Rouge regime, destroyed Cambodia's social structure, her human resources, and much of her culture. Although the war has ended, violence in society still remains, leaving large sections of population traumatised. Weaknesses of social structure, a poverty of human resources, a lack of law enforcement, and the inefficiency of government agencies result in a variety of serious social issues in Cambodia.
Human rights violations, poverty, homeless families, street children, domestic violence, and injuries from landmines are very widespread, and are particularly severe for internally displaced populations and those who have returned from refugee camps. In addition, trafficking in women and children from rural areas to cities and/or across the border to other countries has dramatically increased due to poverty, lack of education, and access to reliable information.
In the early 1990's, terre des hommes Germany began to support local
organisations addressing these problems. Cambodian partner organisations of terre des hommes are involved in the following work:
- Education for street children, minority children, and children who live by collecting garbage, as well as psycho-social rehabilitation through a stable school environment for traumatised children.
- Environmental protection.
- Recovery and promotion of traditional Khmer arts and culture through shadow theatre, classical music, traditional dance and drama.
- Direct services, legal assistance, counselling and rehabilitation for women and children who are victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence.
- Health education and empowerment for women involved in the sex industry.
- Vocational training for landmine victims to assist them in becoming self-reliant.
- Community reconstruction and development in former war zones.
- Promoting peace through Buddhist institutions and teaching.
Campaigns against trafficking in women and children, human resource development, capacity building, and mutual support among terre des hommes local partner organisations in Cambodia and in the Southeast Asian region are supported through exchange programmes, exposure trips and study tours. In addition, in the interest of protecting the bio-diversity of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Basin is taken up as campaign work among Cambodian people and terre des hommes partners.
Partners
1. Krousar Thmey
2. Post-Conflict Family and Child Support (Trauma) Program
3. The Cambodian Women's Crisis Center (CWCC)
Area: 181,035 square kilometre.
Population: 10.2 million (growth rate 2.5%)
Capital city: Phnom Penh (population one million)
People: 90-95% ethnic Khmers plus ethnic Chinese, Cham and Vietnamese
Languages: Khmer, French and English
Religion: 95% Buddhist, and also Muslim and animist
Current Focus and Concerns
A long period of civil and regional wars, and a brutal Khmer Rouge regime, destroyed Cambodia's social structure, her human resources, and much of her culture. Although the war has ended, violence in society still remains, leaving large sections of population traumatised. Weaknesses of social structure, a poverty of human resources, a lack of law enforcement, and the inefficiency of government agencies result in a variety of serious social issues in Cambodia.
Human rights violations, poverty, homeless families, street children, domestic violence, and injuries from landmines are very widespread, and are particularly severe for internally displaced populations and those who have returned from refugee camps. In addition, trafficking in women and children from rural areas to cities and/or across the border to other countries has dramatically increased due to poverty, lack of education, and access to reliable information.
In the early 1990's, terre des hommes Germany began to support local
organisations addressing these problems. Cambodian partner organisations of terre des hommes are involved in the following work:
- Education for street children, minority children, and children who live by collecting garbage, as well as psycho-social rehabilitation through a stable school environment for traumatised children.
- Environmental protection.
- Recovery and promotion of traditional Khmer arts and culture through shadow theatre, classical music, traditional dance and drama.
- Direct services, legal assistance, counselling and rehabilitation for women and children who are victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence.
- Health education and empowerment for women involved in the sex industry.
- Vocational training for landmine victims to assist them in becoming self-reliant.
- Community reconstruction and development in former war zones.
- Promoting peace through Buddhist institutions and teaching.
Campaigns against trafficking in women and children, human resource development, capacity building, and mutual support among terre des hommes local partner organisations in Cambodia and in the Southeast Asian region are supported through exchange programmes, exposure trips and study tours. In addition, in the interest of protecting the bio-diversity of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Basin is taken up as campaign work among Cambodian people and terre des hommes partners.
Partners
1. Krousar Thmey
2. Post-Conflict Family and Child Support (Trauma) Program
3. The Cambodian Women's Crisis Center (CWCC)
