INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE
In response to the Cambodia Study on Violence against Children of 2013, the Cambodian Ministry of Cults and Religion and The Supreme Patriarch Council, and in cooperation with UNICEF, are committed to promote the role of pagodas and monks in effective prevention and response to violence against children and unnecessary family separation. They are taking actions to improve the safety of children both within the pagoda compounds and in the communities. These actions include:
1) Building the capacity of monks to prevent and respond to violence against children through the general inspectorate of national Buddhist education that is being assisted to train and develop a curriculum for incorporation into the three training levels (Primary, Secondary, and Graduate);
2) Monks’ active involvement in educating communities and raising their awareness to prevent and respond to violence against children and to prevent unnecessary family separation; of violence and abuse of children and appropriate responses;
3) Establishing a Pagoda Child Protection Programme including a comprehensive safeguarding mechanism to respond to suspected and reported cases of abuse of any child within the pagoda compound; and Initiating a monitoring and reporting plan with certificates and awards for performance.
Wat Sangkahak Komar policy (or called the Child Safeguarding Policy) is part of the comprehensive mechanism within pagodas to respond to suspected and reported cases of violence against or abuse of children. It includes a) establishment of Child Safeguarding Focal Points with responsibilities for reporting and monitoring in each pagoda and at various levels of the Buddhist structure in Cambodia; b) a detailed mechanism for reporting and responding to reported cases; and a code of conduct for monks and other adults affiliated with the pagoda. To ensure the effectiveness of the policy implementation, the Pagoda Child Protection Programme is developed to be attached with the policy.
