By Janet Davis | Fundraising Manager
In the last five months, Covid 19 has spread throughout Cambodia. Sadly, more than 50,300 people have now been infected with Covid 19, however, 44,143 people have recovered, which is positive news. The pandemic has resulted in schools being closed for the majority of the past year and communities and cities being placed in lockdown or curfew.
The impact of Covid 19 is being felt even more so now than ever, by the families we support. Businesses have closed down, restaurants are empty, people have lost jobs and large numbers of families have no income. The number of visitors to the Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia’s biggest drawcard and home to Angkor Wat, is down by approximately 98%. The Ministry of Tourism anticipates it will be at least five years before tourist numbers reach pre-2019 rates.
It is a very challenging and distressing time for many people in the communities where we work. However, we are continuing to support children and families across all of our programs. Procedures have been introduced to ensure our staff and people in the communities where we work are kept safe and we are adhering to government guidelines. In accordance with the Ministry of Health, 90% of our staff are now working from home.
In February 2021, we presented the research study on “No Place for A Child '' to a range of government departments and NGO’s. This included the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) and UNICEF. The Government welcomed the initiative of a Diversion Program within the This Life Without Bars program as it will provide a service gap that exists in the current Juvenile Justice system.
This Life also presented the report to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation of MoSVY where both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work collaboratively together for a 3 year period with the Diversion Program being included..
In April 2021, This Life presented the research results of “No Place for A Child” at the National Launch of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty in Cambodia Research with approximately 200 participants (children and youth, government officials, civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, academia, development partners, and members of the public in Cambodia and abroad). At this same event we were able to share stories of children who had been imprisoned and for their voices to be heard with potential stakeholders of the Diversion Program. Hear Sok's story here
We are continuing to advocate on behalf of children to ensure they aren't placed in adult prisons for misdemeanours, and for diversionary alternatives to be an option to imprisonment.
On behalf of the children and families supported, we would like to say a big thank you!
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