Cambodia Assesses Correctional Labor for Juvenile Offenders Supporting Military Frontlines

On July 30, 2026, Cambodia's Ministry of Justice, represented by Undersecretary of State Kim Santhipheap and accompanied by Chief of the General Department of Prisons Chon Sanat, led a delegation to inspect and assess the implementation of correctional labor for juvenile offenders at the Fourth Correctional Education Center in Poipet Province. The inspection by the Ministry of Justice comes after more than 600 juvenile offenders were transferred to continue serving their sentences at the Fourth Correctional Education Center, under the coordination of the Ministry of Justice. They are to receive training in agriculture and construction work, serving the "frontlines," such as planting vegetables and pouring concrete for trenches. As a result of this mechanism's implementation, according to Mr. Kim Santhipheap, all juvenile offenders have demonstrated a spirit of awakening, diligently working to improve themselves and actively participating in the specialized work they have been trained in with responsibility and notable results. Regarding this inspection, he stated that its purpose is to evaluate the implementation of this mechanism and report to Deputy Prime Minister Khet Rith, Minister of Justice, to seek guidance for the future direction of this vision. It is worth recalling that in mid-May, the General Department of Prisons transferred 790 juvenile offenders to continue serving their sentences at correctional education centers and prisons in two border provinces. Of these, 651 were sent to the Fourth Correctional Education Center in Poipet Province, and another 139 juvenile offenders were sent to the prison in Udor Mean Chey Province. The transfer of these juvenile offenders is intended to enhance education, rehabilitation, and reintegration through participation in vocational training programs, thereby building their personal professional capacities and engaging in activities that serve the interests of the frontlines. This policy is implemented according to the directive of the head of government, Prime Minister Hun Manet, who instructed the Ministry of Justice, the National Police General Commissariat, and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to study the legal aspects of utilizing juvenile offenders currently detained to assist in frontline support work, such as farming and pouring concrete for trenches.