Cambodia introduces improved standards for children at risk

Sep 8, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh - The Cambodian government said Thursday it had introduced improved standards to regulate how orphans and vulnerable children are assessed and cared for.

The move followed concerns raised earlier this year by UN children's agency UNICEF that children in orphanages were at risk, in part from 'volunteer tourism.'

In March, UNICEF said the number of orphanages in Cambodia had nearly doubled in six years to 269. Fewer than one in 10 was state-funded; the rest were predominantly overseas-funded and faith-based.

During the same period the number of orphans rose from 5,751 to nearly 12,000. But nearly three-quarters of them had one surviving parent, which raised questions as to why so many children were being placed in institutions.

The new standards, which take effect immediately, assess vulnerable children with the focus on them remaining safely within their families. Placing them in institutions would be a last resort.

On Thursday, Ith Sam Heng, the minister for social affairs, said all organizations involved must use the new standards, which cover areas such as nutrition, health, education, shelter and emotional support.

'I hope that according to the standard we can help to improve orphans' and vulnerable children's living situation,' he said.

The guidelines were developed after discussions between government and child rights organizations such as UNICEF and Save the Children.

UNICEF's country representative Richard Bridle said the standards represented an advance for children's rights in Cambodia.

'It's important to have these guidelines that address the different types of vulnerabilities that children face,' he said.

Earlier this year the government began inspecting all orphanages after admitting it had little idea how children were being treated.

Child rights groups have long said putting children into care should be a last resort. UNICEF said studies showed care by a parent was far preferable to institutional care, and was also much cheaper.

Rights groups fear some orphanages are simply thinly disguised businesses, allowing unscrupulous people to earn money from children by getting foreign tourists to pay to spend time helping them.