Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training H.E. Heng Sour met with H.E. Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children, here on Wednesday to discuss strengthening cooperation to protect child rights and eradicate child labour.
The meeting aimed to share Cambodia’s experiences and best practices in ending violence against children in all its forms, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
H.E. Heng Sour warmly welcomed the UN delegation, expressing appreciation for the UN’s essential contribution to the Royal Government of Cambodia’s efforts. He noted that their visit underscores a shared commitment to building a world where every child grows up free from violence, exploitation, and abuse.
The Minister outlined Cambodia’s national initiatives, including the National Action Plan on the Prevention and Response to Violence Against Children 2025-2030. He highlighted the ministry’s core role in preventing child labour, safeguarding young workers, and promoting safe skills development alongside decent employment opportunities.
Cambodia remains committed to enforcing labour laws regarding minimum working ages and tackling child labour in the agricultural sector, where children sometimes assist on family farms according to local tradition. The Royal Government of Cambodia continues to strengthen enforcement through unannounced workplace inspections, hotline reporting, protection for migrant children, and integration of child labour prevention criteria into core compliance standards for export enterprises.
Furthermore, Cambodia is reinforcing its legal framework by ratifying key International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
For her part, H.E. Ms. M’jid commended Cambodia’s comprehensive and practical approach to eliminating child labour and praised its long-standing collaboration with international partners.
She highlighted valuable insights gained from Cambodia’s mechanisms – particularly programmes that re-engage out-of-school children in education and vocational training, as well as unannounced labour inspections – adding that she intends to share Cambodia’s successful practices with other nations.
