ADHOC is deeply concerned about the increased rates of death and suicide as a result of domestic violence within families, especially with regard to serious cases of violence that have occurred during the last two months, between December 2013 and January 2014. Therefore, ADHOC would like to appeal to the Royal Government of Cambodia to take sufficient measures to ensure effective law enforcement, especially in the application of the law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Victim Protection, in order to address the negative impact caused by these incidents of domestic violence, which sadly have resulted in the deaths of victims.
These violent acts have occurred in many forms, where a husband has killed his wife, a wife has killed her husband, a son has killed his mother, or a stepmother has killed her husband’s son. Furthermore, as a result of domestic violence, victims, as a way to escape the long years of abuse, violence, and chronic domestic issues, have, in some cases, committed suicide via methods such as burning themselves, taking poisonous drugs, or drowning themselves.
Based on the monitoring and investigation of these cases, as well as observation of the broader situation in society, undertaken by ADHOC, the following observations have been made; Domestic violence occurs in poor and rich families, well educated and uneducated families, and powerful families also. Much of this conflict and violence is attributed to misunderstanding, disrespect for one another, arrogant and stubborn attitudes, and the societal custom of using power, including economic control, or physical force, for gain and profit. Other contributing factors of the social environment include poverty and impoverished situations that cause stress in the domestic household, as well as gambling, materialism, drug abuse, and health issues. In many cases one or more of these factors cause severe stress because people feel they cannot escape or solve these problems, and sadly, domestic violence often occurs as a result, with individuals cruelly killing their spouses, children or mother. This should not be occurring, particularly in domestic situations where families care so deeply for one another.
In reality, this violence and cruelty, killing one another, and abuse resulting in victims committing suicide, likely occurs as a result of people living without any alternative or solution to solve or overcome the hardships in their lives. This shows the failure of law enforcement, and the limited effectiveness of violence prevention mechanisms to ensure social welfare. Such brutality does affect all family members involved, and many experience fear and stress as a result of living in these environments, as well the trauma suffered by direct victims. This domestic situation can affect future generations because it sends the wrong message to children about what is and is not acceptable. Victims may also take more risks with migrant work, increasing the risk of becoming victims of human trafficking, in the hopes of escaping abuse, or these situations may encourage them to commit crime or illegal activities, which has a negative impact on social development. This abuse also causes many victims to commit suicide in order to escape their situation.
The severity of these situations can be caused by other factors including a lack of attention from law enforcement, problems with the capacity of law enforcement bodies to address domestic violence situations, and delay in addressing incidents of domestic violence before they become more serious. As a result, situations of domestic violence are progressively getting worse, victims increasingly feel hopeless as though they cannot withstand any more abuse, lose faith in finding any solution, and take their own lives.
In this situation, without opportunity for change or resolution, people are reacting to domestic violence with more violence, committing suicide to escape, seeking revenge against others, and setting bad examples for their children. What future do these people have? How should the government, party to the CEDAW Convention, take responsibility for this situation?
During only two months, between December 2013 and January 2014, at least 11 cases of death and suicide as a result of family disputes and domestic violence have occurred. Of those 11 cases, 38 people have been affected. 5 women and 3 men have died, 2 men have been seriously injured, and 22 children have been directly impacted by domestic violence; some have become orphans, and some are living in fear and suffering from mental health issues as a result of domestic violence. Of the 11 cases, only in 2 cases was the perpetrator sent to jail.
This situation of cruelty and family tragedy, which for many feels inescapable, has shown the weakness of implementation and enforcement of law, especially of the law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Victim Protection. This situation also highlights the failure of the state in respect to safeguarding social welfare, human rights, and women and children’s rights. Research indicates that women in particular are victims of this violent and hopeless situation[1]. According to ADHOC’s annual report for 2013, only in 26.18% of all cases (out of 275 cases of domestic violent) was the perpetrator arrested and complaints submitted for criminal cases. Besides this, in most cases mediation by local authorities was undertaken, or divorce requests submitted, and perpetrators were not punished.
To resolve the aforementioned issues, and to respect human rights, especially women’s rights, ADHOC would like to suggest to the Royal Government of Cambodia and all relevant institutions, that the following urgent measures are taken;
- The Royal Government and relevant authorities with capacity should intervene early in cases of domestic violence. Cases in which violence has occurred on multiple occasions, or where victims have been seriously injured, should not be subject to attempted resolution via mediation at all.
- The Royal Government shall establish visible mechanisms, procedures, and hotlines for victims of domestic violence, and ensure that victims can be separated from suspected persons to ensure the security and safety of victims and their family members, to avoid domestic violence incidents becoming chronic problems where no urgent action has been undertaken to address these issues.
- The Royal Government should establish an educational center for perpetrators of domestic violence so that they can be re-educated and strictly disciplined in order to prevent future violence.
- The Royal Government and Ministry of Social Affairs Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSVY) should provide free social welfare services, especially counseling and psychologist services for victims of domestic violence.
- Strengthen the effectiveness of law enforcement and increase the sensitization and public availability of the law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Victims Protection. In particular, training should be provided for relevant law enforcement groups and local authorities that work to intervene and prevent violence. These groups should also be urged to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice in order to reduce acts of domestic violence in society.
- The Royal Government shall strictly punish and discipline any officials that fail to fulfill their obligation to society by allowing domestic violence to become worse, which often results in death or suicide, due to failure to address and investigate these incidents.
Phnom Penh, February 10, 2014
Further information please contacts:
-Ms. Chuon Chamrong, Head of Women’s and Children’s Rights Program, Tel: 017 73 83 87
-Ms. Lim Mony, Deputy Head of Women’s and Children’s Rights Program, Tel: 012 83 44 49
Please see the referenced 11 cases below;
1/. On December 10, 2013, an incident of domestic violence occurred in Chheou Teal village, Thnort Chum commune, Krakor district, Pursat province. The perpetrator, Chhorm Heng, male, 39 years old, a worker, hit his mother to death with big stick (angeré bok kreoung) whilst she was sleeping. The perpetrator suffers from serious mental problems after returning from working in Thailand. The victim was Or. Khor., female, 69 years old, mother of the perpetrator.
2/. On December 18, 2013, an incident of domestic violence occurred in Prey Beng village, Skus commune, Samrorng Tong district, Kampong Speu province. The perpetraor, Soeung Savun called Ny, male, 53 years old, was a member of the police force working in the economic department based in Kampong Speu province. The perpetrator used extreme violence, pressured and controlled the family’s finances, always verbally abused, insulted and cursed at his wife, and forced his wife to leave the house because the perpetrator was having an affair with another lady in the house at the time. The perpetrator tortured and insulted his wife almost every day for many years, resulting in his wife suffering from trauma and mental problems for many years.
3/. On Januray 28, 2014, a domestic violent caused to dead occurred in a poor family in Srayong choeung, Srayong commune, Kulen district, Preah Vihear province by the step mother on her husband’s son due to willing to revenge with step husband that always committed violent on her almost every day. The perpetrator named Ran Samin, female, 34y, had submerge a boy Chor.Ngor., 11y, her husband’s son in to water of a pond closed to her home for drowning victim to dead while catching the fish in the pond. The perpetrator killed the victim because she had retaliated against victim’s father that used violent on her almost every day.
4/. On January 5 2014, a killing and suicide to dead happened in O’Chorm Kandal village, Kampong Lopov commune, Samlot district, Battam Bang province. The perpetrator named Heav Ear, male, 35y, killed his wife named Dor. Lor. 50ys, and then burned to dead, after then, he cut his neck to kill himself while they have verbal conflict in families, the motive of this event due to perpetrator had chronic mental problem (he have to take medicine caused headache every day).
5/. On January 22, 2014, the violence happened in a family in Sre Non village, Kantuot commune, Chetborei district, Kratie province. The victim’s lady named Nhor. Kra., 27ys, Phnong indigenous, decided to burn herslf to dead because of angry with her husband always blame her, jealous her and her family has conflict almost every day. The victims were rescued by neighbor and brought to hospital to save her life on time, but was serious injured. The husband of victim named Yun Chin, 30ys.
6/. On January 6, 2014, a violent happened in Chheou Teal village, Veal commune, Kong Pisey district, Kampong Speu province by a lady named Chet San, 30ys, had purred fuel on her husband and burned due to the verbal conflict dealing with money. The man’s victim named Sa Sokha, 30ys.
7/. On January 21, 2014, a case of burning himself to dead happened in Muoy village, Sangkat #2, Preah Sihanouk by a man named Sao Nhean, 29y, no real job and completely involved in gambling in Casino had decided to purred fuel and burned himself while he was very drunk at the time his wife leaved him alone. This man was rescued by his father in law to the hospital on time. According to victm’s father in law, this man destroyed lot of property made his wife could not patient and decided to home with kids.
8/.On January 25, 2014, the killing and suicide happened at house #63, St 265 of village 4, sangkat Beung Salang, Khan Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh. This case happened to due to a man named Meav Samnang, 31ys, a driver of a tourist company decided to strangle her wife’s neck by his hand, then he strangle himself because of angry with his wife has love affair with another man. The victim’s lady named H.S. K.Th.R, 3oys, a staff of Naga world Casino. This tragedy has leaved 3 kids (2 boy and 1 girl) orphaned.
9/. On January 26, 2014, around 10:40 am, a woman decided to bring her daughter to submerge her into water to dead at Chroy Changva bridge, but she was stopped by police based at the bridge, then brought her to educate and advice to back home. The woman who wanted to kill herself by drowning in to water named Ou Channon called Srey Aun, 31y, her husband named Sok Phanarith, 31ys, this family is living at rent house a long the train way of Beong Salang village, Sangkat Reussey Keo, khan Reusey Keo, Phnom Penh. The reason why the woman decided to suicide because of her husband was completely in gambling, alcohol and committed violence on her almost every day, and the conflict in this family could not be resolved for many years;
10/. On January 28, 2014 at 5:30 pm, a woman named Thea, 34ys, live in Thnol Bambek village, Sangkat Chorm Chao, Khan Pursenchey, Phnom Penh, decided to take exceed of drug to suicide while she angry her husband blame her, but it was not success as her husband brought her to hospital to save her life. This event happened due to the conflict in families;
11/. On January 7, 2014, a suicide to dead in a family in Poum 2, Serey sorphorn district, Banteay Meanchey province. The victim named H.S.D., 39ys, have 3 kids, her husband is education official of Serey sorphorn district. The motive of this suicide due to the family conflict frequently happened without no resolve.
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[1] Following to research report of GAD/c, 53% of women interviewed were affected violent by their husband in families.
