VOA Khmer
Washington DC
08/12/2006
Marriage registrations are believed to be instrumental in curbing domestic violence that seems to be increasing in Cambodia each year.
The anti-domestic violence campaign launched by Phnom Penh women organizations, say that the lack of marriage registration practices in Cambodia prevent women from legally filing for divorce from their husbands. Also, this prevents women from leaving their spouses due to domestic abuse and or adultery.
"Registrations for marriages will insure legality", this is the message that the Cambodian governments and society officials are promoting to encourage more couples to register their marriages.
The Ministry of Women and Veterans Affairs' under State Secretary, San Arun says that marriage registrations will ensure that women’s rights are protected from domestic violence.
Ung Chanthol, director of the Cambodian Women Crisis Center (CWCC) substantiate the growing social problems saying that women are not able to file complaints within Cambodia’s judicial system, because their marriages are not legally recognized.
SRP legislator Chea Poch tells VOA that marriage registrations are costly and corruption by local authorities are also hindering the process.
The anti-domestic violence campaign launched by Phnom Penh women organizations, say that the lack of marriage registration practices in Cambodia prevent women from legally filing for divorce from their husbands. Also, this prevents women from leaving their spouses due to domestic abuse and or adultery.
"Registrations for marriages will insure legality", this is the message that the Cambodian governments and society officials are promoting to encourage more couples to register their marriages.
The Ministry of Women and Veterans Affairs' under State Secretary, San Arun says that marriage registrations will ensure that women’s rights are protected from domestic violence.
Ung Chanthol, director of the Cambodian Women Crisis Center (CWCC) substantiate the growing social problems saying that women are not able to file complaints within Cambodia’s judicial system, because their marriages are not legally recognized.
SRP legislator Chea Poch tells VOA that marriage registrations are costly and corruption by local authorities are also hindering the process.
1 comment:
I have a Cambodian wife and are very familiar with the Khmer way of life. I lived and worked there for 4 years. When it comes to the treatment of women (and this is part of human rights) I found that Khmer men still regard most of their wives as chattels. Their job is to take care of the husband, have sex with him (whether or not she wants it), produce children to support them in their old age, and otherwise be quiet. I have found very few instances in P. P. where the wife plays an equal part in a marriage, which I know is historically the case in Khmer societies, e. g. the wife controls the finances, etc. Another very negative effect, of course, is that the majority of marriages are still arranged by the parents, and it is not rare that first cousins get married. I know the reasons for this practice but it does nothing to promote civil liberties. The absence of a legally defined marriage leaves most wives disenfranchised. Even if they did register and they divorce, the courts do not adjudicate alimony or child support, leaving the burden squarely on the mother. What needs to change is the concept and perception of marriage in society itself for women to exercise their rights as equal human beings. I believe the deplorable past 30 years of Cambodia's history has severely undermined the moral integrity of Khmer society in general, and the free-for-all atmosphere after 1992 hasn't helped those concepts along either.
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