By Sam Ven | Children and Families Section Lead
As of March 2025, Cambodia's juvenile justice system faces mounting challenges, with a significant increase in the number of minors detained across the nation's prisons. Data reveals that 4,522 juveniles (F=144) are currently incarcerated, marking a staggering 49% rise from previous years. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms and alternative solutions to incarceration. The root causes of juvenile delinquency—poverty, homelessness, and lack of access to education—continue to drive young individuals into conflict with the law, often resulting in harsh prison conditions that exacerbate their vulnerabilities.
The Impact of Incarceration on Minors:
Detention has far-reaching consequences for children, affecting their physical and mental health, family relationships, and socio-economic prospects. Cambodian prisons remain severely overcrowded, operating at over 400% of their official capacity. This environment not only fails to rehabilitate young offenders but also exposes them to further harm. Many minors are detained for minor nonviolent offences such as petty theft or drug-related crimes, reflecting broader socio-economic challenges rather than inherently criminal behaviour.
Transformative Solutions: The Role of Diversionary Measures:
Recognising the detrimental effects of incarceration on young lives, programs like This Life Without Bars (TLWB) offer innovative alternatives to custodial sentences. TLWB focuses on community-based rehabilitation and holistic case management support for juveniles in conflict with the law. By promoting diversionary measures, the program seeks to address the root causes of delinquency while ensuring that minors avoid the negative impacts of imprisonment.
The TLWB program collaborates with key stakeholders, including government agents, judges, local authorities, and families, to develop tailored diversion plans for juveniles. These plans emphasise rehabilitation within their communities through vocational training, counselling, drug treatment programs, and life skills development. Such measures not only prevent re-offending but also foster resilience and reintegration into society.
Impact and Achievements:
During the reporting period, the TLWB program made substantial strides in addressing juvenile delinquency through innovative community-based solutions. The program effectively managed a total of 78 cases (F=3), including 16 new cases, with a gender distribution of three female cases. Of these, 60 cases were still active, while 18 had been closed.
Among the active cases, the program implemented a comprehensive range of interventions designed to support juveniles and their families. Key achievements include:
This multi-faceted approach underscores the program's dedication to preventing re-offending and fostering community resilience. By combining educational advancement, vocational training, and family support initiatives, TLWB is creating a supportive environment where juveniles can thrive and contribute positively to their communities. The program's achievements demonstrate its potential for systemic change and its contribution to creating a more humane and effective juvenile justice system in Cambodia.
Systemic Change Through Capacity Building:
In January 2025, This Life Cambodia participated in the annual reflection workshop hosted by the Department of Youth Rehabilitation of the General Department of Rehabilitation, under the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY). The event brought together approximately 80 participants (F=28), including representatives from MoSVY, the Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth (DoSVY), other government officials, social agents, and NGOs, to reflect on progress made in 2024 and establish the General Department of Rehabilitation's action plan for 2025. During the workshop, This Life's diversion program was recognised as a leading example and highly recommended by MoSVY and stakeholders for expansion to additional provinces. This recognition underscores the program's effectiveness in providing alternative pathways for juveniles in conflict with the law, aligning with the broader goal of enhancing Cambodia's juvenile justice system. The expansion recommendation highlights the potential for broader impact and the importance of collaborative efforts between government agencies and NGOs like This Life in promoting sustainable and supportive solutions for vulnerable youth, setting the stage for further collaboration and growth to benefit more children and families across Cambodia.
Stakeholder Engagement:
In January 2025, at the Annual Reflection Meeting of the Provincial Committee for Counter Trafficking (PCCT) in Siem Reap, This Life highlighted its impactful contributions to improving Cambodia's juvenile justice system. The event, attended by prominent figures including the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), the Deputy Governor of the province, and the Head of the Secretariat of the PCCT Siem Reap, drew 250 participants (F = 108, with three individuals identified as having disabilities). Discussions focused on This Life's supportive services for children in conflict with the law, encompassing diversion programs, vocational training, and reintegration efforts. We emphasised our strong partnerships with government stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth (MoSVY) and local authorities, which have been instrumental in supporting juveniles and promoting family-based care through media campaigns. This Life remains committed to gender and disability inclusion, ensuring comprehensive support for all children and families as we continue to work towards a better future for communities. We look forward to sharing updates on our ongoing initiatives and progress.
Real Stories and Testimonials:
Narin, a 15-year-old from Siem Reap, was wrongly implicated in an assault case and detained for 15 days. With the intervention of social agents and This Life Cambodia, he was granted a six-month diversion plan, allowing him to return to his family and school. This Life provided legal aid, counselling, and essential support to help Narin rebuild his life. Now focused on his studies and avoiding negative influences, Narin is working toward a brighter future. His mother expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, "Without the support of social services and the Cambodian Life Organisation, my child wouldn't have had this opportunity."
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