Juvenile rehab centre in Kandal breaks ground
THE Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation on Thursday launched the construction of its first juvenile rehabilitation centre in Kandal province’s Kandal Stung district.
The centre aims to separate juveniles from adults detained in prison to rehabilitate them.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation Vong Sauth said the centre, located in Barkou commune, will integrate juveniles back into society under the law of juvenile justice.
“This juvenlie rehabilitation centre plays an important role in control, education, providing vocational training, inspiration, treatement, care, protection and helping juveniles become good citizens to be beneficial to society,” he said.
He said the centre will help reduce the overpopulation burden in the Kingdom’s prisons and will separate adults from juveniles as they currently live together in prison.
Mi n i s t r y s p o k e s p e r s o n Touch Channy said construction would take 12 months to complete.
Sitting on a 5ha plot, the centre has 17 buildings, including five new ones. Construction will cost about $4 million.
“When the construction is completed, we will bring juveniles who have committed crimes and are now staying in prison to live here and be rehabilitated before being reintegrated into society and their families,” Channy said.
He said there are 1,695 juveniles in jails with adults. The centre could accommodate up to 2,500 of them.
“We will transfer juvenile convicts from across the country to this centre to be rehabilitated,” he said.