By Soy Sophea
Developing countries are facing many problems and they need clear and strict measures to solve the problems. Maternal mortality (pregnant mother) has occurred many years ago since an ancient time while the developed countries have almost eliminated these problems but the developing countries have continued to face the problems including Cambodia.
Raksmei Kampuchea Newspaper volume 15, issue 4425 published Thursday 01 November 2007 stated that Royal Government of Cambodia is paying attention to promote women’s roles in society but efforts to reduce mortality rate for pregnant women are limited that mortality has not been reduced within the last five years. The newspaper continued that according to a study about health in 2005 has shown that 472 women died in 100,000 cases when they delivered babies and 437 women died in 2000 when they delivered their babies.
The same source said in Cambodia there are about 3,000 midwives must most of them are staying in the city and suburb that have caused about 50 percent of health centers in Cambodia do not have enough midwives and can not work. Facing the problems the Cambodia government has encouraged midwives to take care pregnant women until they deliver their babies. If the mother and baby both survive after delivery, a midwife who lives in remote area will receive 50,000 riel and 40,000 riel for the midwife who lives in the city, but in case the mother dies, the midwife does not receive any money.
The Cambodian Government of the National Assembly in the fourth mandate has regarded health sector is a priority sector among others in the government rectangular strategy’s side four in chapter two. “…The Royal Government will continue to focus on the implementation of prevention programs and combat communicable diseases and promote maternal and child health care to reduce the maternal and infant mortality, improve emergency services and provide health and sanitation education and information, especially in the rural areas. The poor shall be entitled to free health care in referral hospitals and health centers. Equity funds designed to help the poor in accession quality of health care services will be further strengthened and expanded.”1
According to United Nationals Development Programme’s report published October 2005 stated that one child among 10 children died before one year old. Even though, the economy has improved and other developments but under five year-old child mortality had increased in the past 10 years. The updated figure of 124 Cambodian children under five year-old died among 1,000 new born children compared to the past ten years (1995-2005) there were only 115 died.2
The same UNDP’s report stated that Cambodia might not fulfill goal five of Cambodia Millennium Development Goals until Cambodia has actual activities to improve ability of health officers, training, improve hygiene and enough budget for the health sector.
If we look at other neighboring countries of Cambodia, we have observed that maternal mortality in Cambodia is higher than Vietnam that there were only 150 died among 100,000 people while there were 110 people died in Thailand and 660 people died in Lao which was higher than Cambodia.3
Furthermore, there are many other important issues that contributed to the high maternal mortality such as the lack of health staff, low education, the lack of knowledge among pregnant women. The Cambodian government should promote rights to receive health care, increase health staff who received good training and other strategy to encourage them including to conduct campaign to provide them with information and increase the budget for health sector. For the public health care programs [the government] should work with NGOs as partners to make sure that all families have the rights to receive health care start from pregnant, delivery and until the children growth, this to replace the existing insufficient health care. These works will support the child if the mother and child health care are paid attention.
In order to make sure that all family members to receive government’s attention, the health infrastructure system must be effectively speeded. Furthermore, the government must increase budget every year in the government annual budget for the Ministry of Health. //
Monday, August 18, 2008
Information Communication and Technology are needed to develop a country
By Soy Sophea
In modern countries especially developed countries, most countries are using information communication technology. In the time of information technology, in order to develop a country, the people of the country must have more knowledge of the technology. ICT is from a phrase Information Communication and Technology. Some countries in Europe, America and Asia highly developed the ICT.
If we look into Cambodia, Cambodia has many sectors that must be developed such as agriculture, tourism that has Angkor Wat temple and other thousand of temples in the country. However, developments can not reply on only one sector.
Koh Santepheap newspaper volume 40 issue 6207 publish Saturday-Sunday 01-02 December 2007 published that ICT group of Cambodia and South Korea met during “Meeting and discussion ICT between Cambodia and South Korea 2007.” This same newspaper quoted Prince Sisowath Pheanuroth, president of councilors for Cambodia Small and Medium enterprise raised that in order to respond to free market competitions, Cambodia needs to strengthen its capability in information technology to use e-commerce.
Why do we say ICT is useful to develop the country? Technology discovery has increased and the speed of communication also faster with digital. ICT has divided into three groups: 1-Information technology by using computers as the inevitable tools in developed societies to speed the work and also save the time. 2-Telecommunication including telephone (including fax machine) and the broadcast (radio, television) and broadcast through satellite. 3- Networking technology that is known as internet technology that is widely spread to be mobile phones and voice over IP (VOIP) communication through satellite and other communication.
Rectangular strategy and national development plans for 2006-2010 regarded ICT is a priority sector for development and reduce poverty. Through loads from development partners, the Royal Cambodia Government has reformed and prepared to use ICT in its administration such as: e-government, information system to manage financial taxes system.
To improve ICT for national development, the Royal Government of Cambodia needs to pay the major roles in drafting laws and other national policy. It does not mean that all countries have the same decision and they are always good. But Cambodia is seen that has made a right decision that the royal government has paid much attention to improve information communication technology that its officers have implemented it, they have observed that Ministry of Telecommunications and Post and national authority that in charge of information communication technology (NIDA).
Cambodia has emerged from civil war and opened its free markets that have allowed good opportunity for development on the information communication technology.
Civil society participations at all levels in the information era should be guaranteed for sustainability for national policy implementation into practice, management and evaluation. Royal Government must guarantees that free market competitions are justice that there are monopolies. Also the government must encourage and coordinate in building infrastructure to provide trainings and establishment of environment for ICT to spread all places.2
However, the policies that drafted by the government, relevant partners especially the private sectors, have influence for the outcomes. International telecommunication Union that is an inter governments for the government to coordinate legal issue and documents in the telecommunication sector, think that multi nations influences have increased. Globalization for multi companies means that government the government can censor telecommunication completely. Some private telecommunication companies owners are foreigners always pay attention to serve their interests. In situation of globalize markets, cooperation has extended and now there are more influences over other developing countries governments by allowing private companies to participate in the decision making to establish policies.
To develop the country that relies on this sector, Cambodia can not be separated from women’s participations in the sector. Information communication technology has given opportunities for women to have rights on the economic sector and other sectors including health and education. Education is an education sector that developing countries and developed countries are working to combine new ICT such as using computers, internet, radios and televisions as well as e-learning to support the education and training for women and children. Illiteracy is high for women and children and the lack of knowledge ICT is an obstacle to push women away from information. To have gaps in gender in education sector because of the lack of family responsibility that has changed according to the social culture has caused to have competition for women and children. Literacy is a foundation of computer knowledge which is needed for women to get other benefits of using ICT in education sector.
However, one country gets benefits from technology as long as the technology is widely using in the country and it also contains the national language. Because of this issue, institutes that are from local NGOs in Cambodia also participate with the Cambodia government through the Ministry of Education, Youths and Sports by establishing computer program in Khmer language for teaching students, civil servants and staff for national and international organizations.//
In modern countries especially developed countries, most countries are using information communication technology. In the time of information technology, in order to develop a country, the people of the country must have more knowledge of the technology. ICT is from a phrase Information Communication and Technology. Some countries in Europe, America and Asia highly developed the ICT.
If we look into Cambodia, Cambodia has many sectors that must be developed such as agriculture, tourism that has Angkor Wat temple and other thousand of temples in the country. However, developments can not reply on only one sector.
Koh Santepheap newspaper volume 40 issue 6207 publish Saturday-Sunday 01-02 December 2007 published that ICT group of Cambodia and South Korea met during “Meeting and discussion ICT between Cambodia and South Korea 2007.” This same newspaper quoted Prince Sisowath Pheanuroth, president of councilors for Cambodia Small and Medium enterprise raised that in order to respond to free market competitions, Cambodia needs to strengthen its capability in information technology to use e-commerce.
Why do we say ICT is useful to develop the country? Technology discovery has increased and the speed of communication also faster with digital. ICT has divided into three groups: 1-Information technology by using computers as the inevitable tools in developed societies to speed the work and also save the time. 2-Telecommunication including telephone (including fax machine) and the broadcast (radio, television) and broadcast through satellite. 3- Networking technology that is known as internet technology that is widely spread to be mobile phones and voice over IP (VOIP) communication through satellite and other communication.
Rectangular strategy and national development plans for 2006-2010 regarded ICT is a priority sector for development and reduce poverty. Through loads from development partners, the Royal Cambodia Government has reformed and prepared to use ICT in its administration such as: e-government, information system to manage financial taxes system.
To improve ICT for national development, the Royal Government of Cambodia needs to pay the major roles in drafting laws and other national policy. It does not mean that all countries have the same decision and they are always good. But Cambodia is seen that has made a right decision that the royal government has paid much attention to improve information communication technology that its officers have implemented it, they have observed that Ministry of Telecommunications and Post and national authority that in charge of information communication technology (NIDA).
Cambodia has emerged from civil war and opened its free markets that have allowed good opportunity for development on the information communication technology.
Civil society participations at all levels in the information era should be guaranteed for sustainability for national policy implementation into practice, management and evaluation. Royal Government must guarantees that free market competitions are justice that there are monopolies. Also the government must encourage and coordinate in building infrastructure to provide trainings and establishment of environment for ICT to spread all places.2
However, the policies that drafted by the government, relevant partners especially the private sectors, have influence for the outcomes. International telecommunication Union that is an inter governments for the government to coordinate legal issue and documents in the telecommunication sector, think that multi nations influences have increased. Globalization for multi companies means that government the government can censor telecommunication completely. Some private telecommunication companies owners are foreigners always pay attention to serve their interests. In situation of globalize markets, cooperation has extended and now there are more influences over other developing countries governments by allowing private companies to participate in the decision making to establish policies.
To develop the country that relies on this sector, Cambodia can not be separated from women’s participations in the sector. Information communication technology has given opportunities for women to have rights on the economic sector and other sectors including health and education. Education is an education sector that developing countries and developed countries are working to combine new ICT such as using computers, internet, radios and televisions as well as e-learning to support the education and training for women and children. Illiteracy is high for women and children and the lack of knowledge ICT is an obstacle to push women away from information. To have gaps in gender in education sector because of the lack of family responsibility that has changed according to the social culture has caused to have competition for women and children. Literacy is a foundation of computer knowledge which is needed for women to get other benefits of using ICT in education sector.
However, one country gets benefits from technology as long as the technology is widely using in the country and it also contains the national language. Because of this issue, institutes that are from local NGOs in Cambodia also participate with the Cambodia government through the Ministry of Education, Youths and Sports by establishing computer program in Khmer language for teaching students, civil servants and staff for national and international organizations.//
What should women do when their boyfriends do not honor their promises to marry them after they slept together?
By Soy Sophea
Love between a man and a woman is established by nature for man and woman regardless their races. Love is an agreement between a man and a woman and a true love always attaches with responsible even though they have not gotten marriage.
Cambodia society circumstance, because of culture, most of women when they love someone, they always anticipate that they will marry the men because they legalize [their love] according to the law. The society will criticize women who have love affairs without marriage. In contrary, we have observed that men always have love affairs with many women that the same time and those relations are not sure that will lead to marriage.
Most of the people in Khmer society do not any comment on the issue that they have regarded as the simple issue for men. These are consequences that women are facing because of the men they don’t love women who already used to have boyfriends, only fewer percentage that agree to marry women who used to have sex with other men or we can say that the women lost their virginity.
To value virginity, it is a good thing to keep women’s dignities but it is a major problem for women who are living in the modern society that relations are widely opened because of economic and social development in the world. We have observed that there were many cases of young girls were raped and they are discriminated against by the society including their family members. This has caused women to face deadlock and sometimes it leads them to work in sex industry.
To anticipate that a couple will get marriage after they have sex can become a sad story and it also leads to court case the same as below cases:
According to Raksmei Kampuchea newspaper volume 06, issue 1485 published Tuesday 6 November 2007 that a man was convicted by Phnom Penh Municipality on charge of rape that the perpetrator raped the victim since she was 15 year-old until she is 20 year-old by making promise that he would engage her and marry her in the future. She waited for five years but the perpetrator failed to engage her and tried to escape that her mother told her daughter to file a complaint with police to arrest the perpetrator.
The newspaper continued that the perpetrator said that he did not rape the victim but it was a voluntarily agreement from both sides without forcing. But because he did not have money to have engagement, the mother ordered her daughter to file a complaint accusing him of raping the daughter.
What should women do when they are facing the same circumstance? Why did she file the complaint? It was true that if the man did not have an engagement with her, it is difficult for her to have another man to have an engagement with her because she lost her virginity and she was looked down by the society. The social culture has tied Cambodian women from moving and could not seek the way out. It is contrary to other developed countries that virginity and love affairs before marriage are not a problem. Women in those countries have full rights to make relationships with other partners before their marriages and they have the rights to choose their partners. So we can see that women are actively participating in economic activities. However, we can solve the problem if we can break the old culture and both sides are responsible for their activities. It is not a solution to have a court case.
If a man wants to have a woman for a partner but he does not have enough money to have engagement ceremony, we should encourage the man to seek employment, save money to their marriage. We can also make marriage document at the district level to legalize the marriage, marriage just to fulfill the cultural habit requirement.
Furthermore, women should think that even though they lose their virginity but it does not mean that there are no men will love them, each person is not required by nature to have only one love. Some people have a second marriage after they divorce or their partners die.
If men refused to love or marry with women after they have sex with, authorities, competent ministries must take legal actions to protect women benefit because the men are irresponsible. According to the article five “1. anyone who wants to rape or intend to rape someone else including the same sex or different sex shall be punished between 10 to 15 years in prison..” 1
The issue also shows about migration because people do not have enough employment that why they have migrated to Phnom Penh to seek employment. There are about 330,000 people workers in Cambodia and mostly are women. Those of them spent less time studied and do not understand about issues around them. And they do not know anything about the legal issue. So when they face problem they don’t know who to deal with it. Relating to migrants to come to work as workers has reflected that we are lacing political policy and other development process for equal gender in order to make sure that both men and women receive employment in remote areas. Royal Government should encourage union workers to train workers with general k knowledge, living ethic and social responsibility. Then the social problem will be reduced. //
Love between a man and a woman is established by nature for man and woman regardless their races. Love is an agreement between a man and a woman and a true love always attaches with responsible even though they have not gotten marriage.
Cambodia society circumstance, because of culture, most of women when they love someone, they always anticipate that they will marry the men because they legalize [their love] according to the law. The society will criticize women who have love affairs without marriage. In contrary, we have observed that men always have love affairs with many women that the same time and those relations are not sure that will lead to marriage.
Most of the people in Khmer society do not any comment on the issue that they have regarded as the simple issue for men. These are consequences that women are facing because of the men they don’t love women who already used to have boyfriends, only fewer percentage that agree to marry women who used to have sex with other men or we can say that the women lost their virginity.
To value virginity, it is a good thing to keep women’s dignities but it is a major problem for women who are living in the modern society that relations are widely opened because of economic and social development in the world. We have observed that there were many cases of young girls were raped and they are discriminated against by the society including their family members. This has caused women to face deadlock and sometimes it leads them to work in sex industry.
To anticipate that a couple will get marriage after they have sex can become a sad story and it also leads to court case the same as below cases:
According to Raksmei Kampuchea newspaper volume 06, issue 1485 published Tuesday 6 November 2007 that a man was convicted by Phnom Penh Municipality on charge of rape that the perpetrator raped the victim since she was 15 year-old until she is 20 year-old by making promise that he would engage her and marry her in the future. She waited for five years but the perpetrator failed to engage her and tried to escape that her mother told her daughter to file a complaint with police to arrest the perpetrator.
The newspaper continued that the perpetrator said that he did not rape the victim but it was a voluntarily agreement from both sides without forcing. But because he did not have money to have engagement, the mother ordered her daughter to file a complaint accusing him of raping the daughter.
What should women do when they are facing the same circumstance? Why did she file the complaint? It was true that if the man did not have an engagement with her, it is difficult for her to have another man to have an engagement with her because she lost her virginity and she was looked down by the society. The social culture has tied Cambodian women from moving and could not seek the way out. It is contrary to other developed countries that virginity and love affairs before marriage are not a problem. Women in those countries have full rights to make relationships with other partners before their marriages and they have the rights to choose their partners. So we can see that women are actively participating in economic activities. However, we can solve the problem if we can break the old culture and both sides are responsible for their activities. It is not a solution to have a court case.
If a man wants to have a woman for a partner but he does not have enough money to have engagement ceremony, we should encourage the man to seek employment, save money to their marriage. We can also make marriage document at the district level to legalize the marriage, marriage just to fulfill the cultural habit requirement.
Furthermore, women should think that even though they lose their virginity but it does not mean that there are no men will love them, each person is not required by nature to have only one love. Some people have a second marriage after they divorce or their partners die.
If men refused to love or marry with women after they have sex with, authorities, competent ministries must take legal actions to protect women benefit because the men are irresponsible. According to the article five “1. anyone who wants to rape or intend to rape someone else including the same sex or different sex shall be punished between 10 to 15 years in prison..” 1
The issue also shows about migration because people do not have enough employment that why they have migrated to Phnom Penh to seek employment. There are about 330,000 people workers in Cambodia and mostly are women. Those of them spent less time studied and do not understand about issues around them. And they do not know anything about the legal issue. So when they face problem they don’t know who to deal with it. Relating to migrants to come to work as workers has reflected that we are lacing political policy and other development process for equal gender in order to make sure that both men and women receive employment in remote areas. Royal Government should encourage union workers to train workers with general k knowledge, living ethic and social responsibility. Then the social problem will be reduced. //
Law Enforcement Officers and Law Training
By Soy Sophea
Law composition is a vital issue that is aimed to have public order in a society and allows people within the society to implement those articles within the law. However, there is another vital issue in order to boost the law, which is composed to have an efficient implementation, is to train the law enforcement officers. Government institutions, provincial and municipality authorities and other civil society groups have paid their attentions on the trainings.
Kampuchea Thmei volume 6 issue 1476 published Friday 26 October 2007 stated that law enforcement officers and other 160 owners from hotels, guest houses received training course about traffic, drug and human trafficking law.
Kampuchea Thmei quoted Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth as saying that “we have acknowledged that not only in Cambodia but other countries in the world some crime cases always occur including criminal and civil offences. But, in order to prevent those problems in a society, we must pay attention to avoid those problems through trainings and other additional courses that are provided by non governmental organizations especially additional courses on social morality from National Cultural Center and other moral issues that have been done from the past until the present and we hope that it can reduce social problems that always occur constantly.”
Law enforcement experts in Cambodia such as judges, clerks, lawyers, police officers, military police officers, provincial and municipality governors, district governors and commune chiefs..etc. Law enforcement task is not an easy job if we are careless to fulfill missions, it is a crime as it is stated in the penal procedure article 65 that “….when the chief of prosecutor at the Appeal Court thinks judicial police commits serious mistake and a conflict of interest during a mission, the chief of prosecutor has the right to temporarily suspend the judicial police for five years and at least 2 years termination…1”
This article requires judicial police to have high responsible for their duties and constantly comply with the law. Those law enforcement officers must have law knowledge, code of ethic and solve problem without biased.
So in order to have the law enforcement officers’ works go smoothly, there must be expertise trainings about the law, theories as well as practices. Good law enforcement is part of a vital issue for people’s confidence and cooperation to decrease crime cases.
Related to the training, there are many laws that law enforcement officers must learn such as laws that the National Assembly and Senate have approved as well as other sub degrees, directives that are issued by the Royal Government and relevant institutions intended to boost the law enforcement efficiency.
Furthermore, telecommunications and information technology have also played a crucial role to disseminate new information in addition to other knowledge and other laws. Telecommunication and information technology have become the most favorable subject for researchers, civil servants, leaders of state institutes, private individuals and educational institution…etc. The Royal Government should uses new technology for widely dissemination of laws such as the telecommunications and information technology law in order to allow people and law enforcement officers to receive information that they need. It is even better, if Cambodia law enforcement officer have knowledge and know how to use the new technology and helps improve the investigation process.//
Law composition is a vital issue that is aimed to have public order in a society and allows people within the society to implement those articles within the law. However, there is another vital issue in order to boost the law, which is composed to have an efficient implementation, is to train the law enforcement officers. Government institutions, provincial and municipality authorities and other civil society groups have paid their attentions on the trainings.
Kampuchea Thmei volume 6 issue 1476 published Friday 26 October 2007 stated that law enforcement officers and other 160 owners from hotels, guest houses received training course about traffic, drug and human trafficking law.
Kampuchea Thmei quoted Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth as saying that “we have acknowledged that not only in Cambodia but other countries in the world some crime cases always occur including criminal and civil offences. But, in order to prevent those problems in a society, we must pay attention to avoid those problems through trainings and other additional courses that are provided by non governmental organizations especially additional courses on social morality from National Cultural Center and other moral issues that have been done from the past until the present and we hope that it can reduce social problems that always occur constantly.”
Law enforcement experts in Cambodia such as judges, clerks, lawyers, police officers, military police officers, provincial and municipality governors, district governors and commune chiefs..etc. Law enforcement task is not an easy job if we are careless to fulfill missions, it is a crime as it is stated in the penal procedure article 65 that “….when the chief of prosecutor at the Appeal Court thinks judicial police commits serious mistake and a conflict of interest during a mission, the chief of prosecutor has the right to temporarily suspend the judicial police for five years and at least 2 years termination…1”
This article requires judicial police to have high responsible for their duties and constantly comply with the law. Those law enforcement officers must have law knowledge, code of ethic and solve problem without biased.
So in order to have the law enforcement officers’ works go smoothly, there must be expertise trainings about the law, theories as well as practices. Good law enforcement is part of a vital issue for people’s confidence and cooperation to decrease crime cases.
Related to the training, there are many laws that law enforcement officers must learn such as laws that the National Assembly and Senate have approved as well as other sub degrees, directives that are issued by the Royal Government and relevant institutions intended to boost the law enforcement efficiency.
Furthermore, telecommunications and information technology have also played a crucial role to disseminate new information in addition to other knowledge and other laws. Telecommunication and information technology have become the most favorable subject for researchers, civil servants, leaders of state institutes, private individuals and educational institution…etc. The Royal Government should uses new technology for widely dissemination of laws such as the telecommunications and information technology law in order to allow people and law enforcement officers to receive information that they need. It is even better, if Cambodia law enforcement officer have knowledge and know how to use the new technology and helps improve the investigation process.//
There are five issues that must be paid attention in education sector
By Soy Sophea
Education sector is a priority sector that must be highly paid attention in other countries in the world regardless developed or developing countries. Because this sector is a training field for human resources and it is the most important sector for country development. Not only to train human resources to be qualified and more knowledgeable but also to train them on social ethic as well. In Cambodia, although there are efforts to draw strategies to promote education development, we have observed that there are many disadvantages in Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports’ measures. This problem is required for the government to pay more attentions for the sake of Cambodian education sector to get closer to other countries and regional countries as well as in the world.
According to Koh Santepheap newspaper issue 40 volume 6188 Friday 9 November 2007 published an article that Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sent has raised issues that need more attentions in Cambodia education sector. During the closing of Stock-Taking Conference on Education Youth and Sports Affairs for 2006-2007 and Directions Setting for New Academic Year 2007-2008, Samdech gave recommendations to Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for five issues. (1). The need for supply of tangible materials to all schools, (2). The need for qualified teachers, (3). The need for strengthening the quality and effectiveness of education that can meet the demand of labor market, (4). The need for raising informatics and telecommunication literacy, and (5). The need for harmonization of tertiary education system since the current higher education system is rather isolated and unsmoothed whose managements are under different ministries and institutions, not only under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports alone.
In order to implement the Samdech Prime Minister’s fourth recommendation, there must be improvement on capability of the information technology and telecommunication that require that Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to have policy to spread the knowledge of information technology and telecommunications to education curriculum of the ministry. When we succeed, the students across the country will receive good opportunity to get new knowledge and use the information technology. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport must also pay attention to equip computers at schools to enable the schools after the students study theory then they can practice. To draw and implement the policy as described above and enable students that finish their study to have resources of technology in general and will change them to be good seeds to food education qualification in Cambodia and enough human resources for Cambodia society for sustainable technology revolution of the world.
The Cambodia government should encourage and strengthen with partners and other NGOs’ institutes and other private partners and national and international community in order to improve public education services including training and skills in the secondary and higher schools. Moreover, the Royal Government of Cambodia must strengthen its education according to international standard and the country’s needs.
Many experiences have succeeded in many countries including Malaysia which is a country in the Southeast Asia and a member of ASEAN. Malaysia has implemented a study is called Smart School Pilot Project that aimed to show information technology in many schools in Malaysia. In this context, 87 schools implemented the plans with computers that connected to schools with Smart School. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports recently has signed an agreement with Open Institute cooperated a program (Open School Program) (www.open.org.kh/osp) to provide training for students with computer program in Khmer language. From 2007-2008 in the faculties, universities and teacher training centers will teach students with Khmer language computer usage.
Ministry of Education and Open Institute are working to develop a plan about Information Communication and Technology in education sector that not only teach about ICT through the education system but also the usage of the ICT for teaching and for other subjects including automat administration management. Sustainability of ICT in education will be a main part in the plans by focusing on using computers and use less energy and small expenditure in using the ICT in education.
If we look at the expenditure, for national budget 2007 in the Cambodia education, is higher in a (priority action programs-PAP) which is among the seven priority program in the Royal Government of Cambodia2. The expenditure on education sector is $30.8 Million which is 23.1 percent of the whole national budget while the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has only $0.2 Million which is 5.2 percent only. This is showing the government is paying attention on the education sector as a priority sector.
However, the expenditure on education sector is limited but in order to promote the education qualification, the government must invest on this sector when the government receives income from oil in 2011. According to International Monetary Fund—IMF anticipation $170 Million income from oil in 2011 while in 2021 there will be $1.7 Billion3. Especially, the government must consider to raise teachers’ salaries and to equip them with information technology for the sake of the education development and to strengthen its efficiency.//
Education sector is a priority sector that must be highly paid attention in other countries in the world regardless developed or developing countries. Because this sector is a training field for human resources and it is the most important sector for country development. Not only to train human resources to be qualified and more knowledgeable but also to train them on social ethic as well. In Cambodia, although there are efforts to draw strategies to promote education development, we have observed that there are many disadvantages in Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports’ measures. This problem is required for the government to pay more attentions for the sake of Cambodian education sector to get closer to other countries and regional countries as well as in the world.
According to Koh Santepheap newspaper issue 40 volume 6188 Friday 9 November 2007 published an article that Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sent has raised issues that need more attentions in Cambodia education sector. During the closing of Stock-Taking Conference on Education Youth and Sports Affairs for 2006-2007 and Directions Setting for New Academic Year 2007-2008, Samdech gave recommendations to Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for five issues. (1). The need for supply of tangible materials to all schools, (2). The need for qualified teachers, (3). The need for strengthening the quality and effectiveness of education that can meet the demand of labor market, (4). The need for raising informatics and telecommunication literacy, and (5). The need for harmonization of tertiary education system since the current higher education system is rather isolated and unsmoothed whose managements are under different ministries and institutions, not only under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports alone.
In order to implement the Samdech Prime Minister’s fourth recommendation, there must be improvement on capability of the information technology and telecommunication that require that Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to have policy to spread the knowledge of information technology and telecommunications to education curriculum of the ministry. When we succeed, the students across the country will receive good opportunity to get new knowledge and use the information technology. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport must also pay attention to equip computers at schools to enable the schools after the students study theory then they can practice. To draw and implement the policy as described above and enable students that finish their study to have resources of technology in general and will change them to be good seeds to food education qualification in Cambodia and enough human resources for Cambodia society for sustainable technology revolution of the world.
The Cambodia government should encourage and strengthen with partners and other NGOs’ institutes and other private partners and national and international community in order to improve public education services including training and skills in the secondary and higher schools. Moreover, the Royal Government of Cambodia must strengthen its education according to international standard and the country’s needs.
Many experiences have succeeded in many countries including Malaysia which is a country in the Southeast Asia and a member of ASEAN. Malaysia has implemented a study is called Smart School Pilot Project that aimed to show information technology in many schools in Malaysia. In this context, 87 schools implemented the plans with computers that connected to schools with Smart School. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports recently has signed an agreement with Open Institute cooperated a program (Open School Program) (www.open.org.kh/osp) to provide training for students with computer program in Khmer language. From 2007-2008 in the faculties, universities and teacher training centers will teach students with Khmer language computer usage.
Ministry of Education and Open Institute are working to develop a plan about Information Communication and Technology in education sector that not only teach about ICT through the education system but also the usage of the ICT for teaching and for other subjects including automat administration management. Sustainability of ICT in education will be a main part in the plans by focusing on using computers and use less energy and small expenditure in using the ICT in education.
If we look at the expenditure, for national budget 2007 in the Cambodia education, is higher in a (priority action programs-PAP) which is among the seven priority program in the Royal Government of Cambodia2. The expenditure on education sector is $30.8 Million which is 23.1 percent of the whole national budget while the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has only $0.2 Million which is 5.2 percent only. This is showing the government is paying attention on the education sector as a priority sector.
However, the expenditure on education sector is limited but in order to promote the education qualification, the government must invest on this sector when the government receives income from oil in 2011. According to International Monetary Fund—IMF anticipation $170 Million income from oil in 2011 while in 2021 there will be $1.7 Billion3. Especially, the government must consider to raise teachers’ salaries and to equip them with information technology for the sake of the education development and to strengthen its efficiency.//
Everyone Must Help to Prevent Domestic Violence
By Soy Sophea
25 November to 10 December 2007 annually some countries in the world hold a campaign in general that is named “16 days campaign against women violence”. The 16 days campaign against women violence is the international campaign that originated from World Women Institute in 1991. Participants have chosen Nov 25 for the international day against women violence while 10 December is the Human Rights Day which is the symbol to cement prevention against women violence and human rights to stress that any violence is an abuse of human rights. Until now there are 2,000 organization in 154 countries have participated in the 16 days campaign since the establishment in 19911.
Koh Santepheap newspaper volume 40 issue 6199 published Thursday 22 November 2007 published an article that Cambodia women committee which is called (CAMBO) reported during the 16 days campaign that entitled “Cambodia law against beer women discrimination”.
The same newspapers reported the report is aimed to show important points for women about Cambodia law that related to women violence such as domestic violence, rape, human trafficking and wedding that currently has its content against the treaty against and eliminate women discrimination that is CEDAW. The report of Cambodia women committee which is an alliance 34 NGOs that is working mainly to promote women, has aimed to reveal the truth of Cambodian women who faced discrimination with their daily lives. This 16 days campaign is focusing on the general problems of discrimination against Cambodian women that involving women violence.
In particular, an NGO is called Gender and Development for Cambodia has a program to distribute white ribbon about 20,000 ribbons in seven provinces such Prey Veng, Pursat, Kompong Chnang, Battambang, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Phnom Penh Municipality. Besides marching on the public streets during the campaign there was also a cyclo march in Phnom Penh on December 2, including educational leaflets distribution, equipments and posters. They also played a spot and performed educational drama which is broadcast on radio “men make changes for men”. A local NGO which has a program against domestic violence also marched against women and children violence in Kompong Thom province. Gender and Development for Cambodia Organization President Ros Sopheap said to accept white ribbons meant stop using violence and discrimination, sexual exploitation and women and children trafficking.
During the occasion, local non-profit NGO Open Institute’s program on women in Cambodia joined to disseminate information about the 16 days campaign which is put on the website http://women.open.org.kh to eliminate discrimination against women including many photos. This women program has a vision toward a society that has participants and women activists to cause changes in social development through receiving and using information technology to increase work capability and knowledge and experience sharing for women.
Women program has its mission to disseminate information and to coordinate discussion about women knowledge through a strategy of communication technology and information. This program also provides means for communication and trainings in order to support the NGO’s efforts and the women network for the organization and women network to be able to other women through communication technology and information.
Moreover, we have observed the campaign also has been paid attention by United Nations officers in charge of human rights. According to UN’s Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour’s remark stated that every day all side of the world women and children are being killed, tortured, raped and trafficked for sex slaves or torture. Her remark was made during a statement 25 November before the elimination against women campaign which is quoted by AFP2.
She regarded the culture of impunity is a foundation of discrimination and inequality. She added there should be no report about a woman is raped if other people cause stigma against the victim than the perpetrator.
The foundation of this treaty about discrimination against women that signatory countries should not use the budget reason not to implement their duties to prevent and eliminate the discrimination against women3. Also they must take measures in order to achieve the work.
Women program of the Open Institute would like to encourage to the royal government of Cambodia and other relevant ministries to implement the treaty against women discrimination and other laws of Cambodia for advantage of promoting Khmer women as well as the Cambodia society that values women “mother is a leader” what a Cambodian wants is to see the result of this proverb mother is a leader to become obvious and equity.//
25 November to 10 December 2007 annually some countries in the world hold a campaign in general that is named “16 days campaign against women violence”. The 16 days campaign against women violence is the international campaign that originated from World Women Institute in 1991. Participants have chosen Nov 25 for the international day against women violence while 10 December is the Human Rights Day which is the symbol to cement prevention against women violence and human rights to stress that any violence is an abuse of human rights. Until now there are 2,000 organization in 154 countries have participated in the 16 days campaign since the establishment in 19911.
Koh Santepheap newspaper volume 40 issue 6199 published Thursday 22 November 2007 published an article that Cambodia women committee which is called (CAMBO) reported during the 16 days campaign that entitled “Cambodia law against beer women discrimination”.
The same newspapers reported the report is aimed to show important points for women about Cambodia law that related to women violence such as domestic violence, rape, human trafficking and wedding that currently has its content against the treaty against and eliminate women discrimination that is CEDAW. The report of Cambodia women committee which is an alliance 34 NGOs that is working mainly to promote women, has aimed to reveal the truth of Cambodian women who faced discrimination with their daily lives. This 16 days campaign is focusing on the general problems of discrimination against Cambodian women that involving women violence.
In particular, an NGO is called Gender and Development for Cambodia has a program to distribute white ribbon about 20,000 ribbons in seven provinces such Prey Veng, Pursat, Kompong Chnang, Battambang, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Phnom Penh Municipality. Besides marching on the public streets during the campaign there was also a cyclo march in Phnom Penh on December 2, including educational leaflets distribution, equipments and posters. They also played a spot and performed educational drama which is broadcast on radio “men make changes for men”. A local NGO which has a program against domestic violence also marched against women and children violence in Kompong Thom province. Gender and Development for Cambodia Organization President Ros Sopheap said to accept white ribbons meant stop using violence and discrimination, sexual exploitation and women and children trafficking.
During the occasion, local non-profit NGO Open Institute’s program on women in Cambodia joined to disseminate information about the 16 days campaign which is put on the website http://women.open.org.kh to eliminate discrimination against women including many photos. This women program has a vision toward a society that has participants and women activists to cause changes in social development through receiving and using information technology to increase work capability and knowledge and experience sharing for women.
Women program has its mission to disseminate information and to coordinate discussion about women knowledge through a strategy of communication technology and information. This program also provides means for communication and trainings in order to support the NGO’s efforts and the women network for the organization and women network to be able to other women through communication technology and information.
Moreover, we have observed the campaign also has been paid attention by United Nations officers in charge of human rights. According to UN’s Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour’s remark stated that every day all side of the world women and children are being killed, tortured, raped and trafficked for sex slaves or torture. Her remark was made during a statement 25 November before the elimination against women campaign which is quoted by AFP2.
She regarded the culture of impunity is a foundation of discrimination and inequality. She added there should be no report about a woman is raped if other people cause stigma against the victim than the perpetrator.
The foundation of this treaty about discrimination against women that signatory countries should not use the budget reason not to implement their duties to prevent and eliminate the discrimination against women3. Also they must take measures in order to achieve the work.
Women program of the Open Institute would like to encourage to the royal government of Cambodia and other relevant ministries to implement the treaty against women discrimination and other laws of Cambodia for advantage of promoting Khmer women as well as the Cambodia society that values women “mother is a leader” what a Cambodian wants is to see the result of this proverb mother is a leader to become obvious and equity.//
Beer Women and Legal Protection
By Soy Sophea
All people, there is no one that does want to live a dignified life with respect and honor. Regardless of any races people always want dignities no matter what their businesses are, but sometimes their wishes can not succeed.
If we look into a corner of the current Cambodia society, there are many works that people do not value the works even though some of the works are being offered values.
According to Raksmei Kampuchea newspaper volume 15 issue 4456 published Friday 7 December 2007 stated that at Wat Phnom resort on December 5th, there were Cambodian Women Crisis Center in cooperation with committee of CEWDAW and Phnom Penh Municipality with supported budget from USAID through East West Institute organized a forum that entitled beer women and legal protection.
The same source quoted Acting President of CWCC Nup Sarensreyroth who said during the forum that was organized in an aim to celebrate the 29 anniversary of the 16 days campaign against the women violation and the elimination of discriminatory ideas against beer women that have regarded all beer women are prostitutes who obsess with sex and thirdly to educate people about the needs of beer women for their social living standards including advantages and disadvantaged consequences from their works.
To improve the working conditions as well as [respect] human rights for beer women are vitally needed government participation, relevant institutes, Non-Governmental Organizations and beer companies. Care Organization has reported that there are 4,000 beer promotion women across Cambodia1. What does the government should do?
The government and NGOs should establish continuous campaigns against the beer women discrimination in order to promote the beer and wine promotion n women something like the 16 days campaign in order to disseminate and show existing articles of the laws involving sexual harassment or internal rape2 for the publics. Article five of the penal code of the Kingdom of Cambodia stated “1. Anyone who rape or attempt to rape on any one regardless the same sex or different sex, they breach the rape offense and must be imprisoned from 10 to 15 years….” At this point we have observed that there are three ministries are involved with the work, they are Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Trainings. The Ministry of Women Affairs should disseminate widely about laws to promote women values such the treaty on elimination all kinds of discrimination against women. For the Ministry of Commerce should encourage and cooperate with beer companies to respect women rights who are their staff to promote or sell the beers the same as garment factories workers and the Ministry of Labor should work on the working conditions and other rights that stated in the labor law in order to investigate and check all beer companies or distributors who are not respect the staff rights and do not implement the labor law. The government has full rights to withdraw licenses for any companies that make mistakes more than two times and continue to make the same mistakes.
Furthermore, NGOs and other civil organizations also have vital roles in advocacy especially for the establishment of federations and unions for beer promotion women. In addition, NGOs can also play the roles to monitor any abuses against the women by helping the government in the campaigns, and when it necessary to participate in drafting the law and to support the respect of human rights for beer promotion women. Establishing federations or unions for women are needed for them to have their initiative and self-leading. To succeed this, the women would stop thinking that they are indirect sex workers that the women are being judged by men customers in a bad way.
Furthermore, companies or beer retailers can also help in the works. the companies have the roles to draw out policies or principles to define the working conditions, appropriate salary, vacation, transportation for the beer promotion women at 10 p.m, this is a way to be responsible for the staff. Uniforms and the transportation must be provided by the company to make it easy for the staff management. The companies should also conduct survey from the customers of their attitudes toward the beer women so the companies can make measure in order to respond the customers’ needs as well as for staff protection and to make profit.//
All people, there is no one that does want to live a dignified life with respect and honor. Regardless of any races people always want dignities no matter what their businesses are, but sometimes their wishes can not succeed.
If we look into a corner of the current Cambodia society, there are many works that people do not value the works even though some of the works are being offered values.
According to Raksmei Kampuchea newspaper volume 15 issue 4456 published Friday 7 December 2007 stated that at Wat Phnom resort on December 5th, there were Cambodian Women Crisis Center in cooperation with committee of CEWDAW and Phnom Penh Municipality with supported budget from USAID through East West Institute organized a forum that entitled beer women and legal protection.
The same source quoted Acting President of CWCC Nup Sarensreyroth who said during the forum that was organized in an aim to celebrate the 29 anniversary of the 16 days campaign against the women violation and the elimination of discriminatory ideas against beer women that have regarded all beer women are prostitutes who obsess with sex and thirdly to educate people about the needs of beer women for their social living standards including advantages and disadvantaged consequences from their works.
To improve the working conditions as well as [respect] human rights for beer women are vitally needed government participation, relevant institutes, Non-Governmental Organizations and beer companies. Care Organization has reported that there are 4,000 beer promotion women across Cambodia1. What does the government should do?
The government and NGOs should establish continuous campaigns against the beer women discrimination in order to promote the beer and wine promotion n women something like the 16 days campaign in order to disseminate and show existing articles of the laws involving sexual harassment or internal rape2 for the publics. Article five of the penal code of the Kingdom of Cambodia stated “1. Anyone who rape or attempt to rape on any one regardless the same sex or different sex, they breach the rape offense and must be imprisoned from 10 to 15 years….” At this point we have observed that there are three ministries are involved with the work, they are Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Trainings. The Ministry of Women Affairs should disseminate widely about laws to promote women values such the treaty on elimination all kinds of discrimination against women. For the Ministry of Commerce should encourage and cooperate with beer companies to respect women rights who are their staff to promote or sell the beers the same as garment factories workers and the Ministry of Labor should work on the working conditions and other rights that stated in the labor law in order to investigate and check all beer companies or distributors who are not respect the staff rights and do not implement the labor law. The government has full rights to withdraw licenses for any companies that make mistakes more than two times and continue to make the same mistakes.
Furthermore, NGOs and other civil organizations also have vital roles in advocacy especially for the establishment of federations and unions for beer promotion women. In addition, NGOs can also play the roles to monitor any abuses against the women by helping the government in the campaigns, and when it necessary to participate in drafting the law and to support the respect of human rights for beer promotion women. Establishing federations or unions for women are needed for them to have their initiative and self-leading. To succeed this, the women would stop thinking that they are indirect sex workers that the women are being judged by men customers in a bad way.
Furthermore, companies or beer retailers can also help in the works. the companies have the roles to draw out policies or principles to define the working conditions, appropriate salary, vacation, transportation for the beer promotion women at 10 p.m, this is a way to be responsible for the staff. Uniforms and the transportation must be provided by the company to make it easy for the staff management. The companies should also conduct survey from the customers of their attitudes toward the beer women so the companies can make measure in order to respond the customers’ needs as well as for staff protection and to make profit.//
Women are backbones in the society
By Soy Sophea
When a society has defined “women law” which allows women participation opportunities outside their houses, the social economic and political developments have also given new brand opportunities for women. They are looking for the participation opportunities that have become important factors that can not be excluded from economic and social development. The Royal Government has recognized the woman vital roles and regarded women are the backbones of a society. However, women discriminations have continued in Khmer society.
Kampuchea Thmei newspaper volume sixth, issue number 1469 published Thursday 18, October 2007 quoted Senior Minister and Minister of the Ministry of National Assembly, Senate and Inspection Men Sam An said during a conference to disseminate the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women that “woman are the backbones that all countries in the world can not be excluded.” The newspaper continued her comment that Royal Government has been taking all sorts of measures, ]such as] violation against women and children, and defined that women and children discriminations are universal problems and serous obstacles in preventing women full participation efficiency to serve in social, economic, cultural and political activities that have guaranteed in the Universal Human Rights Convention. Furthermore, women have all kinds of rights and are able to participate in a society in development for all aspects.
Article one of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women States that “"...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
Through an observation to see these problems, the Royal Government of Kingdom of Cambodia has been trying with all means and abilities in order to establish measures including draft the laws and implement laws in order to prevent the discrimination. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women has been regarded as a vital objection for its efforts to improve women’s advantages in the society.
According to Her Excellency Minister said that women’s issues are mentioned in the government’s Rectangular Strategy, point 3, rectangular 4 about Capacity Building and Human Resources Development, that these issues must be paid very much attention.
In order to succeed a slogan that says “women are backbones in a society” we can not reply on the good laws only ]such as] Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, law against to eliminate kidnapping and human trafficking, law against human exploitation, law against domestic violence, monogamy law, but also must constantly implement the laws and police officers and other relevant authorities must fulfill their duties in implementing the laws and government’s orders.
We also have observed communications and information technologies have played major roles to empower women because people can use communication and information technologies as tools to disseminate information or exchange experiences and other communications. Opinion expressions will allow women to have confidence. When they receive much information, they will gain knowledge that encourages women to participate in other discussions and decision-making. Self-confidence will encourage women’s participation in economic and social developments.
Raksmei Kampuchea volume 15, issue 4414 published Friday 19 October 2007 reported that national authority in charge of information technology developments had a discussion dated October 18 in order to start a provincial and municipalities administration networks that is aimed to build a government electronic networks. They have hoped that through this project telecommunication and information technology infrastructures will expend in order to give convenience for working administration for the two sexes for civil servants. Women are able to use their needed information.
In particularly, women’s roles promotion, we need help from family members, community and the country. International community and the wold have created changes that enable women to go to schools and to continue their studies, eliminate discrimination against women, and in return to recruit women in other national institutions, equal law protections, reduce domestic violent, guarantee women economic safety as well as rights as the owners of the properties and heritages.
Furthermore, telecommunications and information technology is a new kind of revolution that requires all people to have skills, especially women that those skills are vital factors for women to be flexible in their lives. Information and telecommunications technology is necessary for the new generation due to this new type of technology people will receive equal information and knowledge that is a key to encourage women’s works to be flexible and efficiency. Based on these facts, women to hurry to get knowledge in order to make themselves stable in a society just that what we have raised women are the backbones of a society.//
When a society has defined “women law” which allows women participation opportunities outside their houses, the social economic and political developments have also given new brand opportunities for women. They are looking for the participation opportunities that have become important factors that can not be excluded from economic and social development. The Royal Government has recognized the woman vital roles and regarded women are the backbones of a society. However, women discriminations have continued in Khmer society.
Kampuchea Thmei newspaper volume sixth, issue number 1469 published Thursday 18, October 2007 quoted Senior Minister and Minister of the Ministry of National Assembly, Senate and Inspection Men Sam An said during a conference to disseminate the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women that “woman are the backbones that all countries in the world can not be excluded.” The newspaper continued her comment that Royal Government has been taking all sorts of measures, ]such as] violation against women and children, and defined that women and children discriminations are universal problems and serous obstacles in preventing women full participation efficiency to serve in social, economic, cultural and political activities that have guaranteed in the Universal Human Rights Convention. Furthermore, women have all kinds of rights and are able to participate in a society in development for all aspects.
Article one of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women States that “"...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
Through an observation to see these problems, the Royal Government of Kingdom of Cambodia has been trying with all means and abilities in order to establish measures including draft the laws and implement laws in order to prevent the discrimination. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women has been regarded as a vital objection for its efforts to improve women’s advantages in the society.
According to Her Excellency Minister said that women’s issues are mentioned in the government’s Rectangular Strategy, point 3, rectangular 4 about Capacity Building and Human Resources Development, that these issues must be paid very much attention.
In order to succeed a slogan that says “women are backbones in a society” we can not reply on the good laws only ]such as] Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, law against to eliminate kidnapping and human trafficking, law against human exploitation, law against domestic violence, monogamy law, but also must constantly implement the laws and police officers and other relevant authorities must fulfill their duties in implementing the laws and government’s orders.
We also have observed communications and information technologies have played major roles to empower women because people can use communication and information technologies as tools to disseminate information or exchange experiences and other communications. Opinion expressions will allow women to have confidence. When they receive much information, they will gain knowledge that encourages women to participate in other discussions and decision-making. Self-confidence will encourage women’s participation in economic and social developments.
Raksmei Kampuchea volume 15, issue 4414 published Friday 19 October 2007 reported that national authority in charge of information technology developments had a discussion dated October 18 in order to start a provincial and municipalities administration networks that is aimed to build a government electronic networks. They have hoped that through this project telecommunication and information technology infrastructures will expend in order to give convenience for working administration for the two sexes for civil servants. Women are able to use their needed information.
In particularly, women’s roles promotion, we need help from family members, community and the country. International community and the wold have created changes that enable women to go to schools and to continue their studies, eliminate discrimination against women, and in return to recruit women in other national institutions, equal law protections, reduce domestic violent, guarantee women economic safety as well as rights as the owners of the properties and heritages.
Furthermore, telecommunications and information technology is a new kind of revolution that requires all people to have skills, especially women that those skills are vital factors for women to be flexible in their lives. Information and telecommunications technology is necessary for the new generation due to this new type of technology people will receive equal information and knowledge that is a key to encourage women’s works to be flexible and efficiency. Based on these facts, women to hurry to get knowledge in order to make themselves stable in a society just that what we have raised women are the backbones of a society.//
Thursday, August 7, 2008
UN Security Council to Meet over Cambodia-Thailand Border Tensions
By Soy Sophea
The United Nations (UN) Security Council met July 24 for an emergency meeting at the UN’s headquarters based in New York to address the military standoff between Cambodian and Thai forces around the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near Preah Vihear temple.
The meeting was scheduled after Cambodia asked UNESCO, the UN and the UN Security Council and Southeast Asian neighbors to mediate in the crisis.
“To date, the diplomatic efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia to persuade the State Party of Thailand to withdraw its troops and return to the situation prior to July 15, 2008, have been to no avail,” Prime Minister Hun Sen stated in his letter to Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO, dated July 21.
According to the Premier’s letter, the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, where Thai troops have been stationed since the start of the incursion, is approximately 300 meters west of the Temple and 700 meters from the border as delineated in the Dangrek Map produced by the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indochina and Siam and subsequently endorsed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Premier said, “This unwarranted act of aggression…might directly or indirectly damage the cultural and natural heritage of a site situated on the territory of other State Parties.”
“The Royal Government of Cambodia would like to request the UNESCO to take urgent action for the protection of this World Heritage site,” the Premier stated. “You may also want to ask the UN Secretary General and the UN Security Council to take measures that would lead to a peaceful resolution and avoid any armed confrontation.”
Khieu Kanharith, Cambodian government spokesman, confirmed Thursday during a press conference at the Ministry of Information that the world body’s UN Security Council had a meeting on July 24.
“The meeting will look through and evaluate the military situation on the border before they take action,” the Spokesman said. He said that regarding this military standoff, Cambodia has made every effort in terms of international law to deal with the Thai incursion.
He said that, “Cambodia believes that UNESCO will take positive action with regard to the standoff.”
"In order to avoid armed confrontation, the Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to request an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to find a solution to the problem in accordance with international laws," he said.
“I hope that we will get only recommendation from the meeting,” he said. He also expected the result of the meeting to be that the UN Security Council might encourage both sides to restart bilateral negotiations over the disputed territory.
“However, we will use all means to resolve this military standoff; we will try our best to avoid armed confrontation between the two sides,” he said. “Both Cambodian and Thai Prime Ministers have agreed in principal not use weapons to resolve the problem. We will maintain peaceful and friendly behavior as a means to resolve this dispute.”
The tensions began after UNESCO early this month awarded World Heritage status to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple. This was awarded to Cambodia by the ICJ in 1962.
In addition, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, issued July 21 read, “Cambodia understands very well Thai intensions to threaten Cambodian sovereignty in violation of the principles and spirit of the United Nations Charter, the Jugement of the International Court of Justice of 1962, the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris, 16 November 1972) and the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflicts (The Hague, 14 May 1954).”
“Thai soldiers have been positioned among Khmer monks, nuns, friars as well as border policemen and military personnel tasked with protecting our beloved motherland, thereby causing a volatile and tense situation, that could lead to a confrontation more dangerous than on any other parts along the Cambodian-Thai border where Thailand has dispatched troops and heavy weapons,” the statement continued. “In the face of Thai occupation of Cambodian territory at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda and Thai military threats, Cambodia has sought all possible means with the best intention to find a peaceful settlement, but to no avail.”
Cambodia also asked ASEAN to form an Inter-Ministerial Group of foreign ministers from Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos to "find a peaceful solution to the current crisis and to avoid a military confrontation between two ASEAN members".
Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, held a meeting on July 22 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation with all foreign representatives in Cambodia to inform them of the military standoff.
The United Nations (UN) Security Council met July 24 for an emergency meeting at the UN’s headquarters based in New York to address the military standoff between Cambodian and Thai forces around the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near Preah Vihear temple.
The meeting was scheduled after Cambodia asked UNESCO, the UN and the UN Security Council and Southeast Asian neighbors to mediate in the crisis.
“To date, the diplomatic efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia to persuade the State Party of Thailand to withdraw its troops and return to the situation prior to July 15, 2008, have been to no avail,” Prime Minister Hun Sen stated in his letter to Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO, dated July 21.
According to the Premier’s letter, the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, where Thai troops have been stationed since the start of the incursion, is approximately 300 meters west of the Temple and 700 meters from the border as delineated in the Dangrek Map produced by the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indochina and Siam and subsequently endorsed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Premier said, “This unwarranted act of aggression…might directly or indirectly damage the cultural and natural heritage of a site situated on the territory of other State Parties.”
“The Royal Government of Cambodia would like to request the UNESCO to take urgent action for the protection of this World Heritage site,” the Premier stated. “You may also want to ask the UN Secretary General and the UN Security Council to take measures that would lead to a peaceful resolution and avoid any armed confrontation.”
Khieu Kanharith, Cambodian government spokesman, confirmed Thursday during a press conference at the Ministry of Information that the world body’s UN Security Council had a meeting on July 24.
“The meeting will look through and evaluate the military situation on the border before they take action,” the Spokesman said. He said that regarding this military standoff, Cambodia has made every effort in terms of international law to deal with the Thai incursion.
He said that, “Cambodia believes that UNESCO will take positive action with regard to the standoff.”
"In order to avoid armed confrontation, the Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to request an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to find a solution to the problem in accordance with international laws," he said.
“I hope that we will get only recommendation from the meeting,” he said. He also expected the result of the meeting to be that the UN Security Council might encourage both sides to restart bilateral negotiations over the disputed territory.
“However, we will use all means to resolve this military standoff; we will try our best to avoid armed confrontation between the two sides,” he said. “Both Cambodian and Thai Prime Ministers have agreed in principal not use weapons to resolve the problem. We will maintain peaceful and friendly behavior as a means to resolve this dispute.”
The tensions began after UNESCO early this month awarded World Heritage status to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple. This was awarded to Cambodia by the ICJ in 1962.
In addition, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, issued July 21 read, “Cambodia understands very well Thai intensions to threaten Cambodian sovereignty in violation of the principles and spirit of the United Nations Charter, the Jugement of the International Court of Justice of 1962, the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris, 16 November 1972) and the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflicts (The Hague, 14 May 1954).”
“Thai soldiers have been positioned among Khmer monks, nuns, friars as well as border policemen and military personnel tasked with protecting our beloved motherland, thereby causing a volatile and tense situation, that could lead to a confrontation more dangerous than on any other parts along the Cambodian-Thai border where Thailand has dispatched troops and heavy weapons,” the statement continued. “In the face of Thai occupation of Cambodian territory at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda and Thai military threats, Cambodia has sought all possible means with the best intention to find a peaceful settlement, but to no avail.”
Cambodia also asked ASEAN to form an Inter-Ministerial Group of foreign ministers from Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos to "find a peaceful solution to the current crisis and to avoid a military confrontation between two ASEAN members".
Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, held a meeting on July 22 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation with all foreign representatives in Cambodia to inform them of the military standoff.
Golden Silk of Cambodia on Display
By Soy Sophea
Khmer Golden Silk is so called because of its natural yellow color as it is unraveled from the native Cambodian silk cocoon. The best of Khmer Golden Silk was on display at a two-day “Silkworm Social” on July 17-18, presented by Lotus Pond at Regent Park Hotel. One hundred visitors attended the show including Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, former Cultures and Fine Arts Minister.
Sompen Kutranon, Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Pond, told the Cambodia Weekly that the demonstration was to show how fine Cambodian Silk was made. Sompen, who has over 14 years experience in working with Khmer silk, said that she could think of no better type of material. “It is number one in world,” she said.
“We want all those who are interested in Khmer culture to use this material, hand made by Cambodian nationals.” she said. “If consumers use more Khmer silk, this will benefit workers in the handicraft sector of the economy, and will help to balance the scales with the mechanized textile industry.”
Sompen said that the golden silk thread is a single filament with a round cross section. It also boasts excellent light reflecting qualities that produce the fine luster of the Khmer silk textiles.
Bronwyn Blue, director of Beyond Interiors, made enthusiastic comments about both the quality of Cambodian silk and the “Silkworm Social” event.
Bronwyn, whose firm provides furnishing and décor solutions for the serviced apartment, hotel and residential market, gave an ‘A’ grade to Cambodian workers who toil to produce the golden silken thread.
“I have been to many countries in Asian which produce silk. None of these produces can match the quality and beauty of the Cambodian product.” she said. “I suspect the secret is that Cambodian silk is still produced lovingly by hand, not machinery as in other countries.”
Seng Kuysrorn, a consultant for Traidcraft Exchange UK, which provides advice for Small and Medium Enterprises in Cambodia, noticed that Cambodian Golden Silk is more expensive compared to silk produced in Vietnam and Thailand.
Kuysrorn stated, “Now everything is clear to me. I give my fullest support to my hardworking compatriots in their efforts to produce Golden Silk.”
Khun Samphet, 24, a student who attended the show, said that it was good to see the very best of Cambodian material on display. “It is a unique and visually stunning display. I have never seen anything like it before.”
Raising silk worms, known in Khmer ‘Neang’, takes special knowledge and care, and is predominately done by women. Knowledge of the process of raising worms, harvesting and processing the silk thread for weaving, is passed down from generation to generation.
Choung Van, 55, a handicraft worker in Kandal province, said that her business brings hope to her family. She appreciated the move towards promotion of Cambodian golden silk on the international market and was proud to think of her products decorating homes across the world.
The quality of all silk textiles woven in Cambodia is still high due to the weaving and designs. However, as with most other silk textile weaving countries such as India, Thailand, and Italy, Cambodian silk is a mix of domestically produced fibers and the best silk threads imported from China. These imports help to bulk out the 4 tons of top quality silk produced in Cambodia per year.
Khmer Golden Silk is so called because of its natural yellow color as it is unraveled from the native Cambodian silk cocoon. The best of Khmer Golden Silk was on display at a two-day “Silkworm Social” on July 17-18, presented by Lotus Pond at Regent Park Hotel. One hundred visitors attended the show including Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, former Cultures and Fine Arts Minister.
Sompen Kutranon, Chief Executive Officer of Lotus Pond, told the Cambodia Weekly that the demonstration was to show how fine Cambodian Silk was made. Sompen, who has over 14 years experience in working with Khmer silk, said that she could think of no better type of material. “It is number one in world,” she said.
“We want all those who are interested in Khmer culture to use this material, hand made by Cambodian nationals.” she said. “If consumers use more Khmer silk, this will benefit workers in the handicraft sector of the economy, and will help to balance the scales with the mechanized textile industry.”
Sompen said that the golden silk thread is a single filament with a round cross section. It also boasts excellent light reflecting qualities that produce the fine luster of the Khmer silk textiles.
Bronwyn Blue, director of Beyond Interiors, made enthusiastic comments about both the quality of Cambodian silk and the “Silkworm Social” event.
Bronwyn, whose firm provides furnishing and décor solutions for the serviced apartment, hotel and residential market, gave an ‘A’ grade to Cambodian workers who toil to produce the golden silken thread.
“I have been to many countries in Asian which produce silk. None of these produces can match the quality and beauty of the Cambodian product.” she said. “I suspect the secret is that Cambodian silk is still produced lovingly by hand, not machinery as in other countries.”
Seng Kuysrorn, a consultant for Traidcraft Exchange UK, which provides advice for Small and Medium Enterprises in Cambodia, noticed that Cambodian Golden Silk is more expensive compared to silk produced in Vietnam and Thailand.
Kuysrorn stated, “Now everything is clear to me. I give my fullest support to my hardworking compatriots in their efforts to produce Golden Silk.”
Khun Samphet, 24, a student who attended the show, said that it was good to see the very best of Cambodian material on display. “It is a unique and visually stunning display. I have never seen anything like it before.”
Raising silk worms, known in Khmer ‘Neang’, takes special knowledge and care, and is predominately done by women. Knowledge of the process of raising worms, harvesting and processing the silk thread for weaving, is passed down from generation to generation.
Choung Van, 55, a handicraft worker in Kandal province, said that her business brings hope to her family. She appreciated the move towards promotion of Cambodian golden silk on the international market and was proud to think of her products decorating homes across the world.
The quality of all silk textiles woven in Cambodia is still high due to the weaving and designs. However, as with most other silk textile weaving countries such as India, Thailand, and Italy, Cambodian silk is a mix of domestically produced fibers and the best silk threads imported from China. These imports help to bulk out the 4 tons of top quality silk produced in Cambodia per year.
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