UNICEF slams street sweeps
Following the detention this week of homeless children as young
as 1 year old at Phnom Penh’s notorious Prey Speu vocational training
centre, UNICEF yesterday called for an end to street sweeps and
arbitrary detentions.
Three people rounded up on Sunday said in separate accounts this week that children were among those taken against their will to the facility, where they were locked in a single room with no toilet, little ventilation and no access to health care.
The doors were only unlocked when officials from the UN Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) arrived at the centre on
Monday, allowing the 21 held there to return to the city.
“UNICEF joins the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
calling for an end to street sweeps and to seek opportunities for more
constructive approaches,” Meas Bunly, a communications specialist at
UNICEF Cambodia, said by email.
Street sweeps “abuse children’s rights and do not address the real
problems”, she added. “UNICEF is clear on its position regarding
institutionalization of children and Prey Speu is no exception.”
City Hall’s street sweep campaign was raised in discussions on
Wednesday between Phnom Penh Governor Pa Socheatvong and Wan-Hea Lee,
UNOHCHR’s country representative, according to a post on the
municipality’s Facebook page.
During the meeting, Socheatvong said street sweeps would not end,
because their purpose is to “educate, care for and give vocational
training” to homeless people in collaboration with NGOs, the post says.
But Mith Samlanh and Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE) – the NGOs
partnered with the city’s efforts – said they had not been informed
about Sunday’s roundup or asked to provide any help.
Both NGOs said they were concerned by the use of Prey Speu but would continue to work with the municipality to find solutions.
The Social Affairs Department could not be reached for comment
yesterday, but on Wednesday pledged to continue its roundup over the
Pchum Ben festival and to continue using Prey Speu.
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