CSOs concerned over rising number of rapes

CIVIL society organisations (CSO) have voiced concern after an increase of rapes in the Kingdom, saying that the problem affects the honour, dignity and mental health of females.

Human Resource and Rural Economic Development organisation director Em Rithy told The Post on Monday that rapes have been occurring often in the Kingdom.

He said the increase in rapes may be due to a lack of education in the subject.

“I find that information on the law concerning rape is not spread widely, so people might not k now how serious rape is and the penalt y it carries,” he said.

Rithy said that rape is a black mark on society that causes women to feel insecure. Once the problem occurs often in society or any region, it makes women afraid to go out to work. Girls don’t dare go out walking alone, especially to school, he said.

Community Development Organisation director Mat Alpi said local authorities and relevant institutions should promote and spread information denouncing rape to decrease the number of cases.

“This is work that we have to join together with media, civil society organisations and government institutions to tackle. We need to educate about laws and spread awareness about the impact of rape on the victim,” he said.

A Pram villager in Phnom Sruoch district’s Treng Trayoeng commune, Kampong Speu province, told The

Post on Monday that he was extremely worried about the safety of his grown-up daughters.

He worries about them, especia lly when they stay at home at night and he is busy working at a farm far away home.

National Cambodian Council for Children (NCCC) secretary-general Nhep Sopheap said on behalf of the government, she was committed to promoting and protecting the best interests of children across the country.

Without focusing on sexual harassment or any t hing else, children have t he right [to be protected from rape], she said.

“My view is that parents should not leave their children behind [when they go out] because it is a very serious mistake,” she said.

Licadho senior technical officer Am Sam Ath previously told The Post that Licadho had noticed an alarming number of children who had been molested. This situation was only getting worse, he said.

On September 29, a man allegedly raped his 13-year-old daughter at a cassava plantation in Thma Poun commune’s Thma Punkandal village in Kampong Cham province’s Prey Chhor district.

In Svay Rieng province, a man allegedly raped his live-in girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter several times over nine months.

And on September 27, a 59-yearold woman was raped by a fellow villager in Bak Chinhchien commune’s Kampong Khtum village, Phnom Kravanh district, Pursat province.