Safe spaces launched in K Cham
IN collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Save the Children Cambodia has opened child-friendly consultation rooms at five schools in Kampong Cham province. These facilities will serve as safe and private spaces for children to share their concerns and discuss issues affecting them.
A launch ceremony for the rooms was held on February 21 at Thlok Chrov Primary School located in Kang Meas district.
The ceremony was attended by Chan Sophea, director of the ministry’s Primary Education Department and deputy provincial governor Cloth Chenda, as well as teachers and students, according to the international NGO.
Sophea explained that the consultation rooms will play an important role as part of the ministry’s child protection mechanisms, as they align with national policy, as well as the fourth strategy of the child-friendly school programme.
“We hope these rooms will be used as safe spaces for children. In the future, other schools will benefit from the experience we gain through the establishment of these rooms,” he said.
Mot Sana, programme director at the NGO, emphasised the importance of child-friendly consultation rooms.
He said the spaces, established by the Japan-funded Eliminate Violence Against Children in Schools (EVACiS) project, provide a private place where children can discuss issues that affect them with their teachers, child protection focal points and trusted adults.
“Maintaining confidentiality is crucial in creating a safe environment for children to share their concerns,” he added.
“We hope the rooms will make children feel safe and increase opportunities for them to seek support from adults when they need it, without hesitation,” he continued.
He also expressed hopes that the five rooms established by the EVACiS project will demonstrate the value of providing child-friendly consultation rooms, and that other schools will replicate the practice.
Oeun Rya, a 12-year-old sixth-grade student who heads the child council at Thlok Chrov Primary School, thanked all of the parties concerned for their contributions.
Rya described how the EVACiS project has helped to increase the children’s awareness of their rights, and taught them ways to protect themselves from violence.
“I have personally noted that most children
are aware of their rights, and know how to protect themselves by reporting their concerns to the school,” she added.
Kamegia Einosuke, second secretary of the Japanese embassy in Phnom Penh, believes the rooms will allow students to voice their concerns about violence to people whom they trust, and encourage them to seek assistance.
He noted that last year marked the 70th anniversary of Cambodia-Japan diplomatic ties. The occasion was marked by the elevation of the two nation’s relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”.
“We are content with the historic relations and friendship between our two countries. We believe that these rooms will serve as a bridge for us to strengthen our relations in the future,” he said.