Phnom Penh/February 21, 2024 - In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MoEYS), Save the Children in Cambodia (SCI) has launched child-friendly consultation rooms at five schools in Kampong Cham province. These consultation rooms will provide a safe and private space for children to share their concerns and discuss issues affecting them.

The Launching Ceremony of the Child-friendly Consultation Rooms was held today at Thlok Chrov Primary School located in Kang Meas District, Kampong Cham province, and attended by H.E. Dr. Chan Sophea, Director of the Primary Education Department of MoEYS, H.E. Cloth Chenda, Deputy Provincial Governor, Provincial, District, and Commune stakeholders, teachers, and students.

In an opening remark, Mr. Mot Sana, Programme Director of Save the Children in Cambodia, emphasized the importance of child-friendly consultation rooms. These rooms, established by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs-funded Eliminate Violence Against Children in Schools (EVACiS) project, provide a private space 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.

“We hope that the room will make children feel safe and increase opportunities for children to seek support from adults without hesitation when needed promptly,” he said.  “We also hope that these 5 rooms established by the EVACiS project would demonstrate the significance of having child-friendly consultation rooms in schools, and other schools will be able to replicate the practice so that the chances of support-seeking by children can be increased in all the other schools.”

Mr. KAMEGAI Einosuke, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, believes that the consultation rooms will help the students talk about their concerns about violence with trustworthy people and seek help.

“I would also like to mention that last year marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Cambodia, and, to mark the occasion, our bilateral relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We cherish the historic and friendly relationship that exists between our two countries, and I believe that these rooms represent yet another ‘bridge’ between us that will further strengthen our relationship in the future,” he said.

In his remarks, H.E. Dr. Chan Sophea, Director of the Primary Education Department of MoEYS, acknowledges the critical role of child-friendly consultation rooms as part of the child protection and child reporting mechanism in schools, which is in line with the national policy and the fourth strategy of the child-friendly school program.

“The Ministry of Education strongly hopes that the child-friendly consultation rooms will be used and continue to be a safe place for children and that other schools will be able to share and exchange experiences from the establishment and implementation in the future,” he said.

Covering 43 primary schools in the province of Kampong Cham over 3 years of implementation since 2022, the EVACiS project was considered significant in maintaining the effective functioning of child protection systems, including reporting mechanisms in schools and communities, by conducting awareness-raising activities, increasing the knowledge and skills  of school stakeholders, including children, teachers, and strengthening coordination between schools and communities, all through the close cooperation with Cambodian government officials at both the national and provincial levels.

Oeurn Riya, a 12-year-old grade 6 student and head of the student council at Thlok Chrov Primary School, has delivered a speech expressing gratitude towards the involvement of relevant stakeholders. She highlighted the various activities supported by the EVACiS project that have helped to increase children's knowledge and understanding of child rights and how they protect themselves from violence.

“I have noticed that most children understand children's rights, how to protect themselves from risks, and how to report [problems] in school,” she said.

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Note to Editors:

In collaboration with the MoEYS, Save the Children in Cambodia has implemented the EVACiS project in 43 primary schools in Kampong Cham’s Kang Meas district, with financial support from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A survey conducted at the beginning of the project in 2022, targeting 43 primary schools, revealed that 30% of the students had experienced some form of violence in the past month alone. Violence against children can have devastating consequences that may affect them for the rest of their lives. Such violence also contributes significantly to school dropouts and negatively affects learning outcomes. After implementing the project for one year, another survey showed that the prevalence of violence had reduced to 22%.

For media inquiries, please contact:

• Mr. Taing Vida, Communications and Campaign Manager, Save the Children in Cambodia

Email: vida.taing@savethechildren.org               Phone: 016 541616