CRC/C/KHM/CO/2-3
efforts remain insufficient to proactively address the multiple vulnerabilities that put
children at risk of HIV. The Committee is also concerned that the level of resources for
HIV/AIDs programmes has been declining, and that only 9 per cent of annual HIV
expenditure is covered by the State party. The Committee is further concerned that children
infected by HIV who are rejected by their families are insufficiently provided with social
welfare support for continued education, survival, counselling, foster care and protection
from abuse and exploitation.
58.
The Committee urges the State party to allocate the necessary human, technical
and financial resources for the full implementation of the National Strategic Plan for
HIV Prevention and Control, and to take the necessary measures to prevent
stigmatization and discrimination against children living with HIV/AIDS, in
particular through public education campaigns. The Committee draws the attention
of the State party to its general comment No. 3 (2003) on HIV/AIDS and the rights of
the child, and the International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights.
Standard of living
59.
While noting the adoption of a National Strategy for the Poor and Vulnerable, the
Committee is nonetheless concerned that in spite of significant and sustained economic
growth over the past decade, the benefits of this growth have not been distributed equitably,
as one third of the State party’s population is still living below the poverty line, and only
one fifth of the population in rural areas having access to sanitation. The Committee is also
concerned that existing social safety net initiatives, scholarships and food for work, for
example, are fragmented in their implementation and limited in their geographical
coverage.
60.
The Committee urges the State party to strengthen its efforts to provide
support and material assistance to economically disadvantaged families, notably those
living in rural areas, and to guarantee the right of all children to an adequate
standard of living.
Evictions of children and their families from their land
61.
While noting the adoption of the Law on Expropriation in February 2010 and the
Circular on Temporary Settlements in May 2010, the Committee expresses deep concern
that thousands of families and children, especially urban poor families, small-scale farmers
and indigenous communities continue to be deprived of their land as a result of land
grabbing and forced evictions carried out by people in positions of power.
62.
The Committee urges the State party to establish a national moratorium on
evictions until the determination of the legality of land claims is made. The Committee
also urges the State party to ensure that families and their children are not made
homeless as a result of evictions for private and development activities. The
Committee further recommends that the State party fully implement the
recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Cambodia in relation to access to land and livelihood (A/HRC/4/36 and A/HRC/7/42)
Children imprisoned with their mothers
63.
The Committee expresses serious concern about the situation of children
incarcerated with their mothers, especially those living in the overcrowded CC2 prison in
Phnom Penh, as well as in the prisons of Takmao, Kompong Cham and Kompong
Chhnang, in conditions which are detrimental to their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The Committee is particularly concerned that children are not provided with food
and safe drinking water, mothers are being expected to share their own ration with their
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