CAT/C/KHM/CO/2
encourages the State party, in cooperation with relevant partners, to find
sustainable and humane alternatives for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups,
including persons living and working in the streets, and to provide such groups
with the type of assistance they require.
Sexual violence, including rape
21.
The Committee expresses its serious concern that, according to the State party’s
Neary Rattanak III Five Year Strategic Plan 2009-2013, violence against women remains
widely prevalent in Cambodia with indications of increasing incidence of at least some
forms of gender-based violence, particularly rape. The Committee is also concerned at
reports from non-governmental sources about a growing number of rape reports, including
against very young girls and gang rapes, that sexual violence and abuse particularly affect
the poor, that women and children who are victims of such violence have limited access to
justice, and that there is an acute lack of medical services and psychosocial support to such
victims. (arts. 1, 2, 4, 11, 13 and 16)
The State party should take effective measures to prevent and combat sexual
violence and abuse against women and children, including rape. To this end,
the State party should establish and promote an effective mechanism for
receiving complaints of sexual violence and investigate such complaints,
providing victims with psychological and medical protection as well as access to
redress, including compensation and rehabilitation, as appropriate. The
Committee requests the State party to provide statistics on the number of
complaints of rape as well as information on investigations, prosecutions and
convictions in such cases.
Human trafficking
22.
The Committee welcomes the information provided by the delegation on measures
taken to repatriate and protect persons subjected to trafficking, the adoption, in 2008, of
anti-trafficking legislation and the Second National Plan on Human Trafficking and Sex
Trafficking, 2006-2010, the activities of the Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and
Juvenile Protection of the Ministry of Interior as well as other legislative, administrative
and police measures to combat trafficking. However, the Committee notes with serious
concern reports that a high number of women and children continue to be trafficked from,
through and within the country for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. The
Committee is also concerned at the lack of statistics provided by the State party, including
the number of complaints, investigations, prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators of
trafficking, and the lack on information on practical measures adopted to prevent and
combat such phenomena, including medical, social and rehabilitative measures. (arts. 1, 2,
4, 12 and 16)
The State party should intensify its efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in
human beings, especially women and children, including by implementing the
anti-trafficking legislation, providing protection for victims and ensuring their
access to medical, social, rehabilitative and legal services, including counselling
services, as appropriate. The State party should also create adequate conditions
for victims to exercise their right to make complaints, conduct prompt,
impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of trafficking and
ensure that those who are found guilty of such crimes are punished with
penalties appropriate to the nature of their crimes.
Children in detention
23.
The Committee welcomes the efforts made by the State party to reform its juvenile
justice system, including the draft juvenile justice law and the establishment, in 2006, of an
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