20.9 million people are victims of forced labour globally
The Issue
56% are from the Asia Pacific region
45% are men and boys
55% are women and girls
Many females are sex trafficking victims
The Asia Pacific region has the largest number of victims in forced labour
Global figures above are estimated. The International Labour Organization, Press release 01 June 2012 - Victims of forced labour by region
In Cambodia, one in ten children are engaged in child labour
Cambodia still ranks lowest in Southeast Asia for the education dimension of the World Bank’s Knowledge Economy Index (12)
The Education Problem In Cambodia
Poor School Systems
Cambodian public/government schools operate for a limited number of hours per day, there are not enough teachers in these schools and the quality of education is poor. The next generation of Cambodian people are trying to find opportunities to fill the gap of education by establishing their own community schools or seeking the help of NGO schools. Amazing initiatives are underway, but the quality of education is still lacking in school systems.
Families Living in Poverty
In Siem Reap half of the population lives in poverty, especially in rural communities where education is hard to access. This is due to education costs or sometimes the way to school can be long and dangerous especially during the monsoon season. Many children work to support their families instead of going to school.
