Cambodia
YOUTH POLICY FACT SHEET
HTTP://WWW.YOUTHPOLICY.ORG/FACTSHEETS/COUNTRY/CAMBODIA
According to the National Policy on Youth Development (2011), youth is defined as
between 15-30 years in Cambodia.
^GDP PER CAPITA
HDI
USD 945.99
0.543
GINI
36.032
1
138th out of 187 countries.
Year: 2012, Source: World Bank
DEFINITION OF YOUTH
Marriageable Age
Without Parental Consent
Male
Female
18
18
Candidacy Age
Same Sex
Opposite Sex
With Parental Consent
---
---
No data for marriageable age with parental consent. No specific legislation for same-sex
marriage. Source: UNSD, ILGA
Criminal
Responsibility
Majority Age
Minimum Age
14
16
Criminal liability is 18, however the court is
entitled to charge a minor 14 years or older if
circumstances require. Source: CRC/C/KHM/2-3
(2009)
Source: Law on Suppression of
Human Trafficking and Sexual
Exploitation (2007)
Lower
House
Upper
House
25
40
Secondary School
38.15%
Both sexes (15-24) %
39.79% 36.45%
Male (15-24) %
Female (15-24) %
Female (15-24) %
Year: 2008
Source: UNESCO
Year: 2009
Source: UNESCO
Tobacco Use
Prevalence of HIV
5.1%
0.2%
0.2%
Consumed any smokeless or smoking
tobacco product at least once during
the 30 days prior to the survey.
Both sexes (13-15) %
7.2%
Male (13-15) %,
3.0%
Female (13-15) %
Year: 2010
Source: WHO
Population by Age and Sex 2010
Source: United Nations - Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division
2012 Revision - Estimates. (Accessed August 2013).
Youth Unemployment (share of labour force
aged 15-24 available and seeking employment)
5
76th out of 170 countries.
Year: 2013
Source: Commonwealth Youth
Programme
Male (15-24) %
Female (15-24) %
Source: World Bank
Gaps indicate missing data from the original data source. (Accessed August 2013).
Year: 2012
Source: World Bank
YOUTH POLICY & LEGISLATION
According to Innovations in Civic Participation – Cambodia, the National Policy on
Youth Development (2011) began in 2004, with drafts completed in 2006 and 2008.
According to the UN, an accompanying National Youth Action Plan has also been
developed.The National Policy on Youth Development (2011) focuses on 12 strategic
areas:
1. Legal frameworks and mechanisms;
2. Education, training and
capacity-building;
3. Education, care and provision of
health service;
4. Entrepreneurship and labor market;
5. Protection of social security, peace
and justice;
Year: 2013, Source: Reporters Without Borders
18
0.67
85.87%
143rd out of 179 countries.
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
87.13%
Male (15-24) %
160th out of 177 countries.
41.814
Voting Age
Youth Development
88.36%
PRESS FREEDOM
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Literacy Rates
Both sexes (15-24) %
Year: 2009, Source: World Bank
CORRUPTION PERCEPTION
203
Year: 2013, Source: Transparency International
SITUATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Net Enrolment Rates
Year: 2012, Source: UNDP
6. Youth’s participation;
7. Relaxation, leisure, and sports;
8. Arts and culture;
9. Awareness of environment,
agriculture, tourism and business;
10. Volunteers;
11. Gender
12. Drugs use and increase
rehabilitation.
youthpolicy.org – building a global evidence base for youth policy
Is there a national youth policy?
Yes
Cambodia has a policy for youth development.
A UN situation analysis from 2009 exists.
Cambodia
YOUTH POLICY FACT SHEET
HTTP://WWW.YOUTHPOLICY.ORG/FACTSHEETS/COUNTRY/CAMBODIA
YOUTH & PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
The Youth Department within the Ministry of Education, Youth & Sports (MoEYS) has
responsibility for youth affairs and the development of the National Policy on Youth
Development (2011).The National Council for Youth Development is responsible for
“coordinating, monitoring, evaluating and assisting the government in the process
of developing youth.” According to The Phnom Penh Post in August 2011, the Council
will “promot[e] the youth programme into national budgeting, within various line
ministries, public institutions and local authorities.”
Is there a governmental authority
(ministry, department or office) that is
primarily responsible for youth?
Yes
YOUTH & REPRESENTATION
The Youth Council of Cambodia is an independent, apolitical organisation “formed as
a coalition of five major student and youth organizations”. It was established to
“advocate for peaceful democratic reform and promote voter and civic education
among Cambodian youth and students.” Its mission is to “foster a greater
participation of youth in development and provide a voice for young Cambodians”
and through trainings and programmes has become “a voice for students advocating
non-violent democratic change in Cambodia.”
Does the country have national and/or
regional youth council(s)?
Yes
YOUTH BUDGET & SPENDING
The Global Post reports that the 2014 Cambodia budget included KHR 1.337 million
(USD 335 million) on education. The full Budget Law 2013 (2012) is available in
Khmer.
According to the World Bank, Cambodia spent 12.39% of its government expenditure
on education provision in 2007, and 2.60% of its GDP in 2010.
Total Expenditure on Education as a Percentage of Government Spending and GDP
What is the budget allocated to the
governmental authority (ministry,
department or office) that is primarily
responsible for youth?
Unknown
Publications & Reviews
Visit our library for further reading:
http://www.youthpolicy.org/library/cambodia
Footnotes
1) A Human Development Index (HDI) value of zero means low
human development, and a value of 1 means very high human
development. HDI is a composite index measuring three
dimensions: a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent
standard of living. (UNDP)
2) An Income Gini coefficient of zero means absolute equality,
and a coefficient of 100 means absolute inequality. Note: figures
multiplied by 100 for OECD data. (World Bank/OECD)
3) A Corruption Perception Index (CPI) value of zero means that a
country is perceived as highly corrupt, and a value of 100 means it
is perceived as very clean. (Transparency International)
4) A Press Freedom Index (PFI) value of zero means the highest
degree of freedom that journalists, news organisations and
netizens enjoy, and a value of 100 means the lowest. (Reporters
Without Borders)
Source: World Bank
Gaps indicate missing data from the original data source. (Accessed August 2013).
youthpolicy.org – building a global evidence base for youth policy
5) A Youth Development Index (YDI) value of zero means little or absolutely no youth development, and a value of 1 means the highest
possible level of youth development attainable. YDI is a composite
index measuring five domains: education, health, employment, political, and civic participation. (Commonwealth Youth Programme)
For full citation list & more information, visit:
http://www.youthpolicy.org/factsheets/country/cambodia
Last Updated: 05 FEBRUARY 2014