- Education: Immense pressure on the education system is a knock-on effect of the disproportionate age-structure. Not only does Cambodia lack necessary infrastructure to operate schools, but past decades of conflict have also left an enormous deficit of teachers and educated leaders, dragging the country further behind developmental targets. Consequently, many uneducated children and youth turn to illegal activities in the overly active underworld as a means of living.
- Sexual assault/ trafficking: Commercial sex is booming with many young girls entering the trade out of force or destitution. Trends show that children who were sexually abused in childhood are more likely to engage in prostitution as adults. In a culture which values pre-marital purity, victims are often stigmatised and downcast because of a belief that they are 'tainted'. Healthcare and emotional support is scarce and rising levels of violence against women exceed the capacity of the justice system.
- Deforestation: Deforestation is occurring in Cambodia at one of the fastest rates in the world. In 40 years forest cover fell from over 70% to just 3.1% (UNDP, 2013) . The future sustainability of reserves is under great threat by illegal loggers, increasing global demand for wood and poor environmental planning.
- Landmines: Cambodia is laden with countless unexploded landmines which are a legacy of the war-tainted past. Survivors of the detonations almost certainly require amputation and often then turn to begging as a means of survival. Children are often the unsuspecting victims as they play in fields or search for scraps to sell at the market.
Sources:
CIA WorldFact Book - https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pp.html
UNDP: http://www.kh.undp.org/content/cambodia/en/home/countryinfo/
The Halo Trust: http://www.halotrust.org/where-we-work/cambodia