With 70 percent of the total population under 30 years of age, more than eight in ten of them (83%) were in rural areas, Cambodian has a majority youth population. The issues confronting Cambodian youth today are therefore deeply inter-related.
Economic and Social Context: Economic development has featured significant demographic shifts in Cambodian society, as the population is increasingly young and highly mobile. This migration is having a profound impact on the social fabric of Cambodian society and its youth.
Employment: The single most important issue confronting youth and young women in Cambodia today is employment. As observed, the labour force is increasing by 300,000 individuals to 400,000 per year. As a result of economic crisis, there were 40% of the total garment workers lose their job.
Education: Access to education at all levels continues to be unevenly distributed in rural and remote areas, where many of Cambodia’s poor and very poor reside. Dropout rates and retention are a serious concern since it is one thing to encourage higher enrolment, when survival rate is what counts in the long run. The poor are at the greatest risk of dropping out due to a variety of pressures, including community and individual factors. High rates of illiteracy are still evident in the 15-24 age groups, especially among girls.
Participation and Rights: In rural Cambodia, youth voices are not yet well incorporated into local development planning. Youth often feel ignored in the early stages of the planning process, but are expected to participate in development projects as labor contributors. As for decision making in community development, most project priorities at the local level concern infrastructure such as schools, roads, canals, and irrigation. Little attention has yet to be focused on social aspects of youth development.
Gender: Chbap Srey and Chpab Pros (The traditional code of conduct for women and men), give men higher status and authority as the head of the household, and exhort women to be faithful, modest and obedient. Domestic violence is often correlated with spousal control, and attempts by husbands to control their wives’ behavior are often a precursor to violent behavior. There are also high gender based violence and few women in decision-making position.
Drug: Illicit Drug Use, Alcoholic Consumption and HIV/AIDS, Traffic Accident are also the big problems among the youth and the participation of young in fighting HIV is very important and effective among youth themselves (peer education). But sexual and reproductive health is a sensitive topic in Cambodian social context. The numbers of people abusing drugs in Cambodia are rapidly increasing because of lack of information, law enforcement, guidance on such substances and low education as well as poverty.