Citation

Miles G, Thomas N. Child Abuse Rev. 2007; 16(6): 383-400.

Affiliation

Department of Childhood Studies, Swansea University, UK.; Department of Social Work, University of Central Lancashire, UK (npthomas@uclan.ac.uk)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/car.1010

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Cambodia is a society with a troubled history, and one that is struggling to find a way between traditional and modern values. This paper considers some of the challenges in promoting children's rights to protection in such a context. It briefly considers the historical and cultural background, and the possible implications for how different forms of violence involving children are experienced. A feature of the analysis is a method for representing in graphic form the historical circumstances in which different cohorts of children have passed their childhoods. The paper goes on to report findings from a study of children's experiences and beliefs about different kinds of violence and ill-treatment, in which a survey of secondary school children throughout Cambodia was supplemented by focus groups in selected areas. The paper concludes by asking how children's views can be effectively expressed in this particular cultural context, and how research based on those views can be used to influence policy and practice.