Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Launch of child welfare plan marked

Launch of child welfare plan marked

A primary school student arrives at school in Phnom Penh in 2014.
A primary school student arrives at school in Phnom Penh in 2014. Vireak Mai

Launch of child welfare plan marked

The Cambodian government on Monday launched its first nationwide policy for child development, aiming to enhance education, promote social welfare and strengthen protection for children in the Kingdom.

The multi-pronged plan was created by multiple ministries working together over the past three years and will require them to continue to cooperate to implement it, said Men Socheth, the secretary-general of the Cambodia National Council for Children, which is overseeing the policy.

“We want to improve the lives of children in Cambodia,” said Socheth.

The program will attempt to reduce the dropout rates of students and increase vocational training opportunities.

On the social welfare front, the government will promote family cohesion, create health and nutrition programs for children and improve access to clean water. Child protection will entail cracking down on child labour and on crimes against children.

Socheth didn’t discuss the budget for the program, but said a “major” portion is coming from foreign donors. The goal is to be more compliant with the UN convention on children’s rights.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Brawl marrs football final as Indonesian take gold in seven goal thriller

    The Indonesian men's U22 men national football team were crowned champions of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, defeating Thailand 5-2 in extra time on May 16 at Olympic National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The match was marred by an ugly incident that occured in the 91

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Candlelight Party disqualified from July general election

    The National Election Committee (NEC) has disqualified the Candlelight Party (CP) from contesting the upcoming general election, citing a lack of valid documentation. NEC spokesman Khorn Keomono said the CP failed to fulfil one of the three main requirements: including original documentation proving their registration

  • Thong Khon calls for orderly SEA Games closing ceremony

    Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and permanent vice-president of the Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC), calls on all people who have received tickets to the May 17 closing ceremony of the biennial multi-sports extravaganza at the Morodok Techo National Stadium to ensure that the event

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is