Phnom Penh – In a recent statement, Mr. Heng Ratana, a Royal Government delegate overseeing the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), called upon the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts to develop educational programs addressing the consumption of dog meat, as seen in a video shared by Cambodian women on TikTok.

Expressing deep concern, Mr. Ratana highlighted the portrayal of women consuming dog meat and alcohol as a distressing and disgraceful act that undermines the dignity of Cambodian women. "I am deeply disheartened by the actions of a few Cambodian women, which have significantly tarnished the image of our esteemed Cambodian women, compromised our moral and traditional societal values, dampened the spirits of international tourists, and represent behavior that ought to be legally prohibited," Mr. Ratana stated on his Facebook page.

Mr. Ratana advocates for Cambodia to consider the formulation of a national law prohibiting the consumption of dog meat, drawing inspiration from recent legislative actions in South Korea, where individuals found consuming dog meat could face fines exceeding $22,000 or up to three years in prison. Additionally, he noted that Vietnam is contemplating similar legislation to enhance its appeal to foreign tourists.

Highlighting the pivotal role dogs play in society, Mr. Ratana emphasized their loyalty and invaluable contributions to life-saving efforts, particularly in detecting landmines and unexploded ordnance. He stressed the urgency for Cambodia to align with international standards by enacting a ban on dog meat consumption.

Animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS reports that approximately 3 million dogs are slaughtered in Cambodia annually, many of which are stolen pets, and the majority are traded and killed in slaughterhouses across the nation.