Kandal: A Youth Rehabilitation Center was officially inaugurated today in Bakou Commune, Kandal Steung District, Kandal Province. The new center will receive defendants, convicts and inmates under the age of 18 to help rehabilitate and reintegrate them back into society.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Vong Sauth, said that the current operation of the Youth Rehabilitation Center has contributed to the promotion of the law on juvenile justice, as well as the protection of rights, safety and physical and mental well-being of detainees, in accordance with national laws abiding by the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty.

Minister Vong Sauth said, "Rehabilitating and reintegrating prisoners who have already served their sentences into society and the community, The Youth Rehabilitation Center also contributes to addressing the problem of overcrowded prisons. This is the first center of its kind in Cambodia that we have never had before.”

In launching the new center, 50 minors have been sent on probation as a first step.

Also speaking at the inauguration ceremony was the Minister of Interior, Sar Kheng, who said that the issues faced by younger generations are the concern of the Royal Government, in order to help orient their futures as well as the nation. He said that the Royal Government cannot leave children and youth to continue damaging their futures that is why this new youth rehabilitation center has been established.

Minister Sar Kheng said, "It means that we pay attention to [youth], help them, and focus on them to make them change. We already have schools [across the country], although some places, they are located far away. We have secondary schools in all communes, some communes even have up to two schools, and if it is in the capital city, some even have up to three. It is important to grow bamboo shoots, and when they are damaged, we will help them to re-grow, so this new rehabilitation center will aid minors in need of help to grow.”

He added that there are currently 1,422 juveniles in prisons across the country, including 450 suspects, 310 defendants, 421 convicts and 241 inmates. The offenses committed by these minors include 452 drug-related offenses, 125 robberies, 109 thefts, 34 murders, 31 rapes and 671 other offenses.

The construction of the Youth Rehabilitation Center began on 30 March 2020, and was completed on 30 May 2021. The center has 92 staff rooms for living and working officers, bedrooms, maintenance rooms and adjoining rooms that can accommodate up to 1,140 minors. The Ministry of Social Affairs also plans to set up a training facility for minors at the center in the future.

^{PHOTO: EAC NEWS}