YOU ARE HERE:
Children - 2.2 Cambodia National Context
The Kingdom of Cambodia is situated on the Indochina Peninsula and has borders with Thailand, Laos and Viet Nam. It is a country recovering from three decades of conflict, which has left it one of the poorest countries in the world. Cambodia is ranked 73rd out of 78 developing countries in terms of the UN poverty Index.
Cambodia has a population of approximately 11.4 million, more than 50% of which are under 18 years. The adult literacy rate for men is 79.5% and for women 57%. Most Cambodians live in the rural areas where mainly through migration and widowhood, approximately 25% of households are headed by women. Life expectancy is estimated at 56 years. (6) People gain their livelihood mainly through practicing agriculture, and from a growing informal sector that is almost completely unregulated.
Although there are now serious efforts being made to re-develop Cambodia on all fronts, war has left the country with little in the way of infrastructure and with one of the poorest health systems in the world. Much of health care therefore occurs outside of the government system, and poor people can spend up to 25% of their income on routine treatment. In Cambodia there is no welfare system, 42% of women have never attended school, and law enforcement is problematic. In some areas landmines and personal security are still cause for concern. Only 29% of the population have access to safe drinking water, 15% to electricity.
Despite the first democratic election in 1993, Cambodian politics have remained turbulent and the country's political instability has impeded development. The country is very dependent on external aid, which for the past 2 years has financed all public infrastructure investment by the government. Nevertheless, government structures at both central and local level are intact, and at the lower level leaders can have a strong influence over their communities. There is a growing local NGO sector in Cambodia which is helping communities to redevelop, and there is also an increasing awareness of civil society and of the need to promote human rights. (7)
Facts
Government employees including teachers, doctors and uniformed personnel receive very low wages, and have to support themselves through private income generation.
Women-heads of households in Cambodia are more vulnerable to poverty because they have less power and fewer opportunities than men
One of the major causes of landlessness in Cambodia is because families sell land to cope with a health crisis.
The local NGO sector in Cambodia is leading the move for community development. It still lacks skills and resources, and needs a great deal of support to develop.
Footnotes
(6) UNFPA. "Country Population Assessment: Cambodia" 2000
(7) APCASO. "Report of the Consultative Phase of the APCASO HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Project in Cambodia" 2000