Samheng Boros

Written by, H.E Samheng Boros

The Cambodian Socioeconomic Survey (CSES) is a survey that the Cambodian government does every two years. This survey takes a sample of 10,000 households from all over the country to get a full picture of the country’s living standards and poverty levels.

The National Institute of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning put together the 18th series of CSES reports, titled the Cambodia Socio Economic Survey 2021 (CSES2021). The CSES is funded by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), and Statistics Sweden provides short-term technical support.

The CSES is a comprehensive questionnaire that spans 60 pages and includes questions on everything from living conditions to economic activities, health to education, and vulnerability to victimization and violence to well-being. This information is crucial for explaining the causes of poverty in the region.

The CSES also has information about where the people who were surveyed reside. This allows the Poverty Mapping model to add the approximate coordinates of each household, which makes the data even more useful for mapping. 

Indicators on household status, health, education, housing conditions, household income and liabilities, household consumption, household economic activities (labour force), victimization, vulnerability, and other factors are provided by CSES2021, a comprehensive set of indicators on the living conditions of Cambodians. 

These indicators provide statistical evidence that is helpful in formulating decisions and policies. The National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) and Cambodia Sustainable Development Goals (CSDG) are both closely monitored by the RGC, which also uses survey data to estimate GDP (national accounts), conduct analyses of food security, national transfer accounts (NTA) in the generational economy, demographic dividends, and life cycle deficits, and develop effective policies for reducing and eliminating poverty in Cambodia.

The CSES results are used by other data users, such as the corporate sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic researchers, economists, analysts, university students, etc., in their professional careers to comprehend and analyze the socio-economic condition in Cambodia.

CSES2021 used a nationwide representative sample of 1008 sampling units (villages), which were split into 12 monthly samples of 10,080 households in 25 provinces. The goal of the sampling plan was to get estimates for the other cities, other rural areas, and the municipality of Phnom Penh. 

The survey also gives estimates for four other areas: the Plain, the Tonle Sap, the Coastal, and the Plateau/Mountain Regions. The 2019 Cambodian Census of Population was used as a frame for the sampling.

The survey questionnaire is made up of four forms: CSES Form1-Household Listing Questionnaire, Form2-Village Questionnaire, Form3-Household Questionnaire, and Form4-Diary Questionnaire. The questionnaires were carefully made, and some changes were made to the consumption and spending modules to make it easier to separate food and non-food items than in previous surveys. In CSES2021, there are more questions about social security.

Starting in February 2021 and continuing through January 2022, the data was collected. The ten parts of the report on the results of the CSES2021/22 indicator are: 1. Demographic Characteristics, 2. Housing Conditions, 3. Agriculture, 4. Education, 5. Labor Force, 6. Health and Disability, 7. Victimization, 8. Household Income and Liabilities, 9. Household Consumption, and 10. Household Vulnerability.

The entire procedure of collecting data and building the Poverty Map model is executed with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms. For example, deep neural networks were used to generate the land cover map that was extrapolated from Landsat images. Neural networks are a type of machine learning (ML) that divides images into layers so that sub-categories can be found based on the features they share and those that are unique to them. 

Combining datasets to make a model of poverty in Cambodia is another thing that can’t be done without AI computing. The AI used is known as the random forest model.

Random forest is a popular machine learning technique developed by Leo Breiman and Adele Cutler that combines the output of numerous decision trees to produce a single conclusion. Its ease of use and flexibility, as well as its ability to tackle classification and regression challenges, have boosted its popularity.

This methodology converts large amounts of data into indications that help determine each region’s overall economic vulnerability. Ensembles are collections of models that look at the same data in different ways. The advantage of this method is that it is more accurate because the errors in the multiple models will not be the same.

Using this multi-pronged approach, the Cambodian Poverty Mapping Tool can identify the most influential variables and interpret large amounts of earth and socioeconomic data into simple indicators of poverty. These indicators assist in the identification of at-risk groups within a larger population.

The Cambodian Poverty Mapping Project addresses pressing issues about the core causes of economic vulnerability in communities. Poverty mapping tools, such as the Cambodian Poverty Mapping Tool, can also help answer concerns regarding where new services should be directed to have the greatest impact.

These services include locating basic infrastructure developments, allocating grant funds, and piloting conditional cash transfers to replace subsidies. As a result, more efficient programs for the most vulnerable individuals in a population can be developed and implemented.

H.E Samheng Boros is Minister attached to the Prime Minister, Royal Government of Cambodia and Chairman of National Social Assistance Fund Board (NSAF) and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Source: 

1. Report of Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2021 

2. Big data and Artificial Intelligence for mapping vulnerability in Cambodia

Written by, H.E Samheng Boros

All people have certain needs that need to be met in order to live a good life. These needs are important because they show what drives human behavior and what makes people want to do certain things in life.

If parents aren’t stressed out about providing for their families’ most fundamental needs, such as food, shelter, and medical care, they can focus their attention where it’s needed most: on raising happy, healthy children who will one day become productive members of society.

Mothers with young children have been hit hard by the pandemic because parents have had to figure out how to meet their families’ most basic needs despite job insecurity, loss of income, serious concerns about health and safety, and the widespread closing of schools and many other services and resources that usually help young children and their families. Even though things have been bad, they would have been much worse without government assistance.

In Cambodia, poor women receive 40,000 riels from the government for each regularly planned visit to a health clinic until their child reaches the age of two. For the poorest families, these payments mean being able to maintain a nutrient-dense diet without having to sacrifice trips to the health center for check-ups or school supplies for their older children.

The Royal Government of Cambodia organized regular health checkups for underprivileged children with the assistance of UNICEF. They can go to the village health care center on a regular basis. During these visits, village children are checked for healthy growth and development, and mothers receive nutritional counseling as well as information on other important services available at the health center. These checkups are very important for malnourished children because they let doctors find and treat problems early, before they get worse over time.

The pilot program for the current national cash transfer program began in 2016. In the past six years, village health centers have progressed from seeing 20–30 patients per day to more than 100. Not only are there more patient visits every day, but malnutrition went down as well.

The health care workers’ quarterly visits to villages make a big difference because families get to meet the employees at the health center and learn about the services they offer. When they come in for visits, these healthcare professionals assist the most vulnerable families—those with IDPoor status—to enroll in the cash transfer program; as a result, the community’s malnutrition rate has decreased.

The National Social Protection Council and MoSVY worked to cover the growing number of IDPoor under the new national COVID-19 Cash Transfer Program for the Poor and Vulnerable and to expand the coverage of the current program to children over two, people with disabilities, the elderly, and people living with HIV/AIDS. This was done with the generous financial support of SIDA, the SDG Fund, the European Union, UNICEF, and SIDA.

The digital system for giving cash transfers to pregnant women and young children was improved, an existing money transfer partnership (Wing) was made bigger, commune leaders were trained, and the new program was spread to villages all over the country in a matter of months after it became clear how badly it was needed. About 680,000 IDPoor families are currently enrolled in a cash transfer program and getting help from it. This cash distribution program is part of an expanding social safety net for the 2.8 million Cambodians living in the most precarious conditions.

The development of the social protection system involves investments and the provision of economic security for the population, particularly for the poor and vulnerable families. In this spirit, the Royal Government of Cambodia will continue to enhance and extend the social assistance and social security systems in a more targeted manner, particularly by encouraging and motivating people in the informal economy to formalize in order to receive protections.

The eradication of poverty, hunger, malnutrition, disease, and illiteracy is our top priority. All social welfare programs are effectively implemented. People and organizations involved in service delivery have a strong sense of duty and work in a transparent, corruption-free, timely, and accountable manner.

Power has only one duty – to secure the social welfare of the People- Benjamin Disraeli

H.E Samheng Boros is Minister attached to the Prime Minister, Royal Government of Cambodia and Chairman of National Social Assistance Fund Board (NSAF) and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Written by, H.E Samheng Boros

Have you ever wished to live a more mindful life but found it difficult to find the time in your busy schedule?

What if there was a substance that could offer you a happier, healthier, calmer version of yourself along with a stronger, healthier brain, reduced stress, help in warding off anxiety and depression, better sleep, and a better mood?

What if science could provide many research studies to support its healing, restoring, and protective effects? In fact, the answer is right here in our hands. In a nutshell, it is paying attention in the present moment. Beginning a regular mindfulness practice is challenging, and there will be setbacks along the way.

These thorough, science-based activities will not only help you find inner peace throughout your day, but they will also equip you with the skills necessary to improve the mindfulness of your clients, students, children, staff members, or anyone else related to you.

Mindfulness is the awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment. The objective is to let thoughts, feelings, and sensations pass through without judgment or the urge to act on them.

It involves accepting with gentleness whatever comes into your awareness in the present moment. It’s about exploring your experience and growing your knowledge of your own inner world – the things that drive you, motivate you, get in your way, trip you up, and keep you stuck. The more you practice mindfulness, the more you will understand how your thoughts, feelings, and sensations interact with one another, as well as your mood and how you respond to the world.

Mindful breathing is the best mindfulness exercise.

This exercise is very simple, but it can have a very big effect. The exercise is just to tell the difference between an in-breath and an out-breath. When you breathe in, you know it’s your in-breath. When you breathe out, you are aware that this is your out-breath. You must return your mind back to yourself in order to perceive your in-breath as in-breath.

Sit quietly in a seated position. Concentrate on your breathing while seated. Deeply inhale for three seconds, then slowly exhale for three seconds. When you find your thoughts wandering, return to your breath and inhale deeply for three seconds, followed by a thorough exhalation for three seconds.

You can enjoy your breathing. The practice may be pleasant and joyful. Get comfortable and begin to take strong, slow, deep breaths. Ensure that your belly moves up and down as you breathe. Be conscious of what is happening in your body when the breath comes and then leaves. Recognize your thoughts if they come. Let them be, then leave them. If your mind starts to wander, just admit it, figure out where it went, and gently bring your attention back to your breath. Be present without the need to rush or move on to the next activity of the day. This can be challenging, but remind yourself that whatever happens is acceptable. Simply observe it, accept it as it is, and let it go.

The benefits of mindful breathing.

Mindful breathing has many benefits that have been shown by science. Here are a few.

Mindfulness turns on your body’s “rest and digest” system, which makes you feel less anxious. When the parasympathetic nervous system is working, your heart rate and blood pressure will go down. This can help you feel less anxious.

In our modern age, stress is something we know all too well, and it’s common for adults to feel stressed out from their jobs. A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that mindful breathing reduces stress, burnout, cynicism, emotional exhaustion, and anxiety.

A 2016 study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found that mindfulness meditation can help reduce the intensity of pain and should be studied more as an alternative to opioids for people with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, and lower back pain.

Reduces negative thoughts: According to a study published in Behaviour Research and Therapy in 2010, practicing mindful breathing can reduce negative, repetitive thoughts that are common in people with depression. This can lead to a better mood.

What is perceiving your in-breath is your mind, and the object of your mindfulness is the in-breath. Mindfulness is always aware of something. It will take some practice before you really master this breathing method. Some people struggle to do it naturally.

When practicing mindfulness, our brain tries to bombard us with numerous distractions because conscious breathing is not something we do constantly. You might experience negative feelings, anxious thoughts, and to-do list items.

That’s alright. Everything is a part of learning.

H.E Samheng Boros is Minister attached to the Prime Minister , Royal Government of Cambodia and Chairman of National Social Assistance Fund Board (NSAF) and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Written by, H.E Samheng Boros

Mindfulness is a holistic philosophy that encourages us to live in the present moment with curiosity and acceptance of our feelings and thoughts. It is beneficial in developing greater self-acceptance and self-esteem, as well as aspects of resilience such as self-awareness, emotion management, and enhanced coping abilities and relationships.

Mindfulness, the simple discipline of bringing a compassionate, accepting attitude to the present moment, can help youth of all ages. It can help parents by enhancing their happiness and reducing their stress. It motivates people to discover who we are, to examine our worldview, and to appreciate our experiences.

It is a form of meditation that emphasizes nonjudgmental awareness in the present moment, regardless of what is happening. Mindfulness meditation originates from Buddhist teachings, however anybody can practice it. Focusing one’s attention on a single thought or activity for a set period of time is the core of mindfulness meditation.

When you first start practicing mindfulness, it’s best to do so for short periods of time when you feel calm. Slowly add more time to your practice sessions. Don’t try to force yourself to feel calm while practicing mindfulness, and don’t blame yourself for doing it “wrong.” Just acknowledge and accept that you’re feeling restless, and keep practicing. People often think of formal activities like meditation or breathing exercises, but you can also be mindful while doing things like eating or washing dishes.

Mindfulness isn’t about always being calm, not thinking about anything, or trying to act happy when you’re not. It’s about learning to pay attention and be aware of what’s going on inside and outside of you. In this way, you can learn to control yourself and change your focus.

As youth get better at being mindful, they will be able to handle difficult situations better.

The majority of young people occasionally enter states of mindfulness while engaging in physical activities or being in nature. With prolonged practice, mindfulness can develop into a personality attribute or way of life in general.

Youth in particular need solutions that will help them build on their existing strengths and develop new skills, such as paying attention, practicing non judgment, and learning to control their emotions. An arts-based approach, for instance, is very applicable to youth since it is engaging, developmentally appropriate, and fun. Also, arts-based methods are excellent for assisting youth in understanding and expressing their emotions.

Young people who use mindfulness as a tool respond rather than react. The difference between responding and reacting is pretty straightforward: a reaction is when one “acts before thinking,” but a response is the capacity to “think before you act.” This simple understanding helps people keep in mind the difference and importance of being able to respond. In the midst of conflict, learning to become conscious of one’s breath, one’s sensations, and one’s thoughts helps to create space and pause where the norm is to react (often with aggression).

How to train yourself to Be Mindful

• Pay attention to what you are doing and tune into your senses. When you are eating, pay attention to the food’s color, texture, and taste.
• Don’t feel like you have to be busy all the time. Just let yourself be for a while.
• When you start to overthink, gently bring your attention back to your breath.
• Realize that your thoughts are simply thoughts. You don’t have to believe them or act on them.
• Try to listen without judging what you hear.
• Spend some time outside in nature.
• Observe how the mind enjoys continuously judging. Not to be taken seriously. It is not your personality.

As Sadguru said, “If your mind becomes pleasant, we call this peace. If it becomes very pleasant, we call this joy. If your emotions become pleasant, we call this love. If they become very pleasant, we call this compassion.” 

When you are mindful, you live in the present.

H.E Samheng Boros is Minister attached to the Prime Minister , Royal Government of Cambodia and Chairman of National Social Assistance Fund Board (NSAF) and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Written by, H.E Samheng Boros

Every Individual has a right to live with dignity and Social Protections ensure this. It is a crucial tool for combating poverty and fostering inclusivity, in addition to being a powerful force for reducing inequality in the world. It has been made abundantly evident by COVID-19 that social protection is not an expenditure but rather an investment in people. 

It not only helped in stopping families from spiralling into deep poverty and deprivation, but it also kept the economy from going into a worse recession. This was due to the fact that it prevented households from falling into financial crisis. It offers a more solid platform for an economic recovery that is more robust, inclusive, and dynamic.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the worst economic crash since 1929. The pandemic and measures forced 115 million more people into extreme poverty.

Researchers are surprised to find that 61% of the worldwide workforce is informal or precarious and lacks social protection. 55% of the world’s population, or 4 billion people, lack social security, while 26% are merely protected against economic insecurity.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) World Social Security Report estimates that low-income countries would need about USD $78 billion to provide social protection, including healthcare, for 711 million people.

The Royal Government of Cambodia and other organisations are working together to improve the social protection system and help Cambodia’s economy get back on its feet. In addition, the Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to boosting cash assistance transfers to the most vulnerable families in the Kingdom and investing from its national budget. This is an immediate response to the socioeconomic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Royal Government of Cambodia recognizes non-governmental organisations, development partners, and the private sector as contributing to peace, political stability, security, social order, and economic and social development to eliminate disparity. 

So far, cash transfers have reached 700,000 vulnerable households since the COVID19 pandemic and  The Royal Government of Cambodia has spent 2,613 billion Riel(US$653 million), on its cash transfer programme to help those affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The Royal Government of Cambodia, in collaboration with UNDP, assisted 2,400 businesses in going online and utilising the power of alternative media networks in order to combat the COVID-19 information pandemic, reduce social stigma, and promote social cohesion. 

This is an extraordinary achievement by the Royal Government of Cambodia and organisations like UNDP to provide social protection for families affected by the pandemic and financial hardship. From rapid and digitalized on-demand registration of poor households at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to technical support for strengthening targeting and feedback mechanisms to ensure social assistance reaches those who need it most, UNDP has helped strengthen Cambodia’s social protection system.  

The Royal Government of Cambodia and UNDP are developing the Graduation-Based Social Protection Model, which aims to strengthen the productive capacity of targeted households for supporting their exit from poverty and enhancing their resilience against future shocks, also conducting policy reflection and analysis on the extension of social protection to the informal sector and senior citizens.

In collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia, a large number of organisations like UNDP are working toward the common goal of bettering Cambodia’s future. This demonstrates that the participation of non-governmental institutions is required for the continued socioeconomic growth of the country. This is vital for Cambodia’s “Together for a better future” initiative.

H.E Samheng Boros is Minister attached to the Prime Minister , Royal Government of Cambodia and Chairman of National Social Assistance Fund Board (NSAF) and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Written by H.E Samheng Boros

Rural development is important not only for the majority of people living in rural areas but also for the country’s overall economic expansion. According to studies, as of 2021, approximately 75% of Cambodia’s population lives in rural areas. 

In today’s world, people migrate from villages to towns in search of more opportunities, better healthcare, infrastructure, technology, and a higher standard of living, resulting in an increase in the urban centric population. Cambodia is in a better place when compared to other countries where a huge percentage of the population migrates to towns, making the towns overcrowded and polluted, also adding to the increasing economic imbalance in the world.

Labour migration to urban areas is a sign of unscientific urban and rural strategies. Economic growth has been a focus of many Asian and African countries’ development initiatives. In spite of the fact that the majority of people live in rural areas, investment in economic growth has been skewed toward capital-intensive urban centers in many of these countries.

The only choice available to many of the underprivileged from rural areas is to look for work in urban areas. The unprecedented expansion of urban centers and settlements can be explained by the disparity between rural and urban development. Fortunately, this is not seen to a large extent in Cambodia 

Cities continue to draw people in quest of a higher quality of life, better job prospects, and more services even if more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Cities deal with a wide range of problems caused by integration, as well as the immediate needs of migrants. Numerous cities that welcome newcomers demonstrate that, in the long run, well managed migration can be beneficial for economies and societies.

While Cambodia is maintaining this balance by addressing core livelihood developments in the rural areas, like focusing on agriculture and animal husbandry, there are fields like traditional arts and crafts that will add value to the current initiatives and overall growth. 

With the goal of promoting health and nutrition in rural areas by increasing access to clean water and sanitary facilities, the Royal Government of Cambodia has developed a National Strategic Plan on Water Supply and Rural Sanitation Promotion 2014-2025.

More than 80% of Cambodia’s rural people now have access to clean water and toilets. This is up from 70% in 2017.

Since 2018, the Royal Government of Cambodia has built 11,741 wells, 1,271 community ponds, 2,440 rainwater tanks, 200 water distribution systems, and provided 145,865 large water jars to families.

The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has completed the construction of 433,014 toilets for villagers and 11,198 handwashing facilities in public schools. RGC’s goal is to make sure that everyone in rural areas has access to clean water and sanitation by 2025.

Cambodia’s economy has done exceptionally well over the past decade, and the country’s efforts to reduce poverty have made substantial progress in that time. Agriculture and related agro-industries have been a significant contributor to the growth of the overall economy.

COVID-19 has had an impact on the supply and demand sides of the global food trade. In the middle of the pandemic, the Cambodian government has allowed the nationwide transportation of goods, including agricultural products and inputs. As a result, prices for the majority of important food commodities have largely stayed consistent.

However, as mentioned above, a widened focus on traditional arts and crafts, with the Government prioritising investing in the macroeconomic health of the community as a whole, will help towards promoting rural development and giving local communities the power to organise and manage their own growth.

The Cambodian government’s diversified developmental strategy includes the supply of loans to households and small businesses, cash transfers, the decentralisation and deconcentration of the delivery of public services, and support for participatory, decentralised, area-based programs.

Conclusion

Every village has its own unique personality, different industries, and developmental needs. Developmental plans should be based on the aspirations of the people, while also maximising their strengths and minimising their weaknesses.

The development of rural areas lifts people’s morale and strengthens their unique identities. The facilities for a higher standard of living should be available in an ideal village, but the traditions and customs that are associated with villages should be kept intact.

H.E Samheng Boros is Minister attached to the Prime Minister , Royal Government of Cambodia and Chairman of National Social Assistance Fund Board (NSAF) and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Written by H.E Samheng Boros

It is becoming more common to hear about gender-based violence. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a problem that keeps happening and affects many people throughout their lives. Gender-based violence is not just country-specific; it is an evil spread across the world.

Violence against women and children is never acceptable, but studies reveal that more than a quarter of men and half of women believe there are situations in which violence against women is acceptable.

One in three women globally and one in five women in Cambodia between the ages of 15 and 49 have been physically abused. Statistics show that one-third of women around the world have said that an unknown person hurt them physically or sexually. Our moral obligation as responsible people is to put an end to this. 

The risk of GBV increases during times of stress, conflict, or natural disasters, and as a result, we as a society must take steps to prevent it before it happens or address the needs of women and girls when it does.

According to the UN, “Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is not simply a goal in itself, but a key to sustainable development, economic prosperity, and peace and security” 

GBV happens at work, in public places, and in private spaces. Females make up the majority of GBV victims. GBV can manifest in different ways. Most of these include physical violence, such as assault or slavery, which are prominently visible; however, there are some lesser-talked-about abuses such as emotional or psychological, like verbal abuse or confinement; sexual abuse, including rape; harmful beliefs, like child marriage and female genital mutilation; and socio-economic violence, such as denial of resources, not allowing financial independence, etc., which are also silent killers.

Cambodian law prohibits gender-based violence. The Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims (DV Law) and other laws uphold equal rights and protection against cruelty and discrimination on the basis of gender.

The Cambodian Government has established National Police Hotline Number 1288. a 24-hour crisis hotline to support victims of domestic violence. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is also working towards raising awareness. 

There are non-governmental organizations like This Life Cambodia that have been directly supporting families experiencing violence while also running awareness campaigns for the last four to five years to raise awareness and educate people on gender-based violence. “Goodbye, My Love” is the name of their current campaign. 

The campaign talks about the culture that normalizes abuse and violence against women, normalizes victim blaming, and promotes those experiencing domestic abuse to remain silent for the sake of their families.

It is time for communities to come together and support all women facing domestic abuse. 

Society must surround her with the strength, love, and support she needs to say “goodbye” to a life of suffering.

It is incredible to see young Cambodians like Ms. Lim Rathserey, who feels about the issue and lent her beautiful voice to the video by singing a rendition of a classic song. The amazing team from This Life Cambodia and artists from Phare Ponleu Selpak, who acted in this informative and viral video, which has already gained 1.2 million views.

It is up to each and every one of us to shift the narrative so that domestic violence is no longer a reality for any woman. For a better and more peaceful society, start taking action to stop violence against women:

• Begin by practicing your own behavioral change.
• Be an advocate for and a protector of women and girls in your family and neighborhood.
• When you see evidence that GBV is happening, learn to speak out against it.
• Utilize all available channels, including social media, to influence your networks and friends.
• Make donations or volunteer your time to GBV-related organizations.

Together, we can transform our society for the better by bringing an end to violence against women and girls. It is indeed time to acknowledge GBV for what it is, and putting an end to it should be a priority for everyone. Each of us has the special power to influence our attitudes and behaviors as well as start important discussions. Take part in the campaign to end this violence.

Please watch the video “Goodbye, My Love” and share it with your network. It’s a message we all need to spread throughout Cambodia and the world. 

H.E Samheng Boros is Minister attached to the Prime Minister , Royal Government of Cambodia and Chairman of National Social Assistance Fund Board (NSAF) and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Written by H.E Samheng Boros

Over the past ten years, Southeast Asia’s economic and geopolitical profile has substantially changed. Its $3 trillion economy is a special shining spot for global growth. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has assumed a remarkable level of importance in international relations on a global scale due to its growing cohesion and success in becoming the hub of the growing regional security architecture of the Asia-Pacific.

The Southeast Asian nations have prioritised economic development in order to fend off pressure from other countries and avoid becoming pawns in a geopolitical game. The first move the region made toward exercising collective, and hence stronger, bargaining power was the formation of a regional organization, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Maintaining political neutrality, abstaining from forming any military alliances with nations outside the region, opening up economies, and fostering trade and investment are among ASEAN’s core principles. As a result of more than 50 years of working for economic growth, ASEAN has emerged as the only genuine regional economic organization in the world.

In spite of the ongoing effects of geopolitical unrest, ASEAN continues to sign an increasing number of international trade agreements. The international community has also begun to acknowledge the region’s significance in the development of peace and prosperity on a global level. The region is in a better position to achieve its goals of rising to the position of the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030.

Many people in the region hope that Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand will exercise leadership to find ways to bring important stakeholders together to find solutions to some of the most urgent common challenges and restore faith, even though the region will be reluctant to cross certain boundaries or join any particular side.

Being the ASEAN chair, Cambodia will continue to build on the community’s spirit of cooperation to coordinate efforts to achieve the goals of building a resilient ASEAN Community in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Cambodia showed its maturity by handling negotiations on difficult issues including the South China Sea dispute, Myanmar, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In a combined effort with Japan, Cambodia also announced that it will send its first group of deminers to Ukraine in December. The project is all about providing humanitarian assistance. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen tried to arrange talks between the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia in Phnom Penh. This was a great effort to bring peace between two countries.

The coming months will be crucial for both ASEAN and the rest of the world. As the disparities between nations widen and the problems, we face get worse by the day, the window of opportunity is getting smaller. ASEAN will be in the spotlight, and it is up to all of the member states to take use of this chance to demonstrate how “Unity in Diversity” can lead to sustainable and inclusive solutions, both for its own citizens and for the rest of the world.

H.E Samheng Boros is Minister attached to the Prime Minister , Royal Government of Cambodia and Chairman of National Social Assistance Fund Board (NSAF) and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Politics has many different definitions, but to put it simply, it is the art of persuasion. The root of the word “politics” is “relating to citizens.” Youth involvement in politics results in civic engagement, which is broader than political engagement because it can include community service through involvement in health, education, and charity activities.

The future of Cambodia relies on young people and a variety of systems run by young people to establish and promote evidence-based decisions at all levels.

It is crucial for youths to get involved in social issues and politics in order to be aware of the needs of the people and to seek solutions to the key challenges facing our country, which have an influence on us, our families, and our communities both directly and indirectly.

Two-thirds of the population is under 30, and youths between the ages of 15 and 30 make up 28% of the population, according to the 2019 census. Youths are talented, quick, smart, and creative, and over 90% of them are educated, with 70% of them working in the economy.

In Cambodia, the Royal Government of Cambodia is always addressing youth issues. It places a special emphasis on the acceptance of them and has a longstanding policy of accepting with great respect. 

Youths are crucial to the development of any country, and this is especially true for a country like Cambodia where the majority of people are under the age of 30. The Royal Government of Cambodia worked hard to develop these young people’s best qualities and equip them with the essential resources so they would be ready for the enormous responsibility.

According to Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) deputy commander and Royal Cambodian Army (RCA) commander Lieutenant General Hun Manet,  “Our community would back us up if we do good deeds. Please keep doing these. What we still lack, or what our community has advised, is that we must make an effort to pay close attention, find the various sources of information about a problem, and study them right away in order to find an appropriate solution or to provide an immediate explanation to the person making the request or raising the issue.”  He was addressing the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) youth working group in Phnom Penh.

In addition to being a fundamental democratic and political right, inclusive political participation is also essential for creating societies that are stable and peaceful and for creating policies that are tailored to the particular needs of younger generations.

Young people must be aware of their rights and be provided the information and tools necessary to participate meaningfully at all levels in political institutions, processes, and decision-making, particularly during elections. The Royal Government of Cambodia is working towards bringing more youth into politics by providing education, training and a safe environment. 

There are several ways to engage youth, or perhaps young people, in politics. Youth can meet with local authorities, diplomats and potentially attend commune meetings by joining advisory boards or local youth groups. Therefore, young people will learn about government and foreign diplomacy firsthand by seeing and participating in these activities. The youth can get a quick glimpse at how local government decisions are made, which is beneficial to them since they can observe how those decisions directly affect their lives. Additionally, it gives them a platform where they can keep pushing for youth advocacy and promoting the inclusion of young people at all levels in the professional and social sectors.

Photos: Facebook Pages of H.E Lieutenant General Hun Manet and H.E Samheng Boros