Cambodia

The history of this country is very eventful. After having been a vassal state by its neighbours Thailand and Vietnam, it became a protectorate of France in 1863. Cambodia gained independence in 1953 and stayed independent for a decade. Subsequently, the country became the center stage of the conflict between the super powers China, the former UDSSR and the U.S. represented by the pro-western neighbouring states South Vietnam and Thailand on the one hand and the communist neighbouring country North Vietnam on the other hand.

The death toll of the gruelling regime of the Red Khmer (1975 – 1978) is estimated to be between 2 and 3 million people who died from illness, hunger and political mass executions.

And still today the country has not quite come to terms with its past: There is hardly a politician of today’s constitutional monarchy who can claim beyond doubt that he has never collaborated with the henchmen of Pol Pot. After national elections in 2003, the forming of a government was extremely difficult and a coalition agreement was obtained only after a year-long period of negotiations – but at least they were very peaceful!

From an economic perspective, Cambodia has shown a strong annual growth rate of 8% for the decade 2000 to 2010. In 2011 the annual growth rate slowed down to 7%. The most important economic sectors are tourism, the textile industry, construction business and real estate as well as agriculture. The textile industry employs 600,000 people, who are primarily women. Another 500,000 people work in tourism and 50,000 in the construction business. Tourism has shown further growth rates and in 2014, 4.5 m people visited the country.

Nonetheless, Cambodia is still one of the weakest economies in the world. In 2012 approx. 2.66 m people had to live on $1.20 per day, i.e. just over $400 a year! 81% of the population of 15 m live in rural areas. A big share of the Cambodian economy is being paid for by foreign aid.

Another major problem of Cambodia is corruption. Corruption is more widespread than in any other southeast Aasian country and is the blame for the disappearance of annually approx. $300 m foreign aid money.

Another major problem is the social position of children and women in the Cambodian society. Women who work outside their own house and without the control of their family offend the code of honor for women, Chbab Srey, which is still being taught to girls today.

Poverty stricken children coming from unstable circumstances are put at risk of human trafficking, drugs and violence. They are kidnapped by human traffickers and sold. Often human traffickers try to attract children from the street by offering them treats. Girls very often have to work as prostitutes and cannot escape. Other children work as slaves in households or are used as baits for tourists.

According to estimates, 50,000 women and girls become victims of sexual abuse every day – one third of them are minors. Unfortunately, the myth of sex with a virgin as a protective measure against HIV is not very helpful. In many cases it is even the parents who sell off their girls. They act out of economic need and very seldom show regret.

Cambodia in figures