PHNOM PENH, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Monday officially launched a comprehensive training curriculum and master training plan for the social service workforce to curb child violence and exploitation, said a joint press release.
This milestone initiative aims to equip social service workers with the skills necessary to protect Cambodia's most vulnerable children.
"The Social Service Workforce plays a central role in supporting and promoting the well-being of children, families, victims and vulnerable groups by alleviating poverty, identifying and managing risks, and facilitating access to and delivery of social services to ensure that they get the needed welfare services in all circumstances," Chea Somethy, minister of social affairs, veterans and youth rehabilitation, said at the launching event in Phnom Penh.
"Knowledge, skills and professional ethics are at the core of building the social service workforce and will be key to promoting social justice, reducing discrimination, addressing harmful practices, and preventing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and all forms of exploitation in order to build an inclusive society for children, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged groups," he added.
The new curriculum is the country's first standardized training program for social workers that focuses specifically on child protection, the press release said, adding that developed in response to the recommendations from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Committee, it underscores Cambodia's ongoing commitment to safeguarding children from violence, exploitation, and harm.
"The launch of this curriculum is a critical step forward for Cambodia's child protection system," said Will Parks, representative of the United Nations Children's Fund to Cambodia.
"By empowering social service workers with the skills they need to address child abuse, exploitation, and violence, we are laying the foundation for a safer future for all children," he added.
Cambodia is facing a shortage of social workers, with only 37 professional social workers serving the entire country at the provincial level and just over 200 para-professionals at the district level, according to the press release.
These challenges are underscored by the findings from the 2022 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey, which found that over 50 percent of children aged 13-17 have experienced physical violence, and more than 3 million Cambodian children have been subjected to violent discipline at home, the press release said.
The new curriculum offers a roadmap for upskilling social workers and para-professionals through competency-based training, tailored to address Cambodia's child protection challenges, the press release added. ■