Domestic violence is a serious problem globally and particularly in Cambodia. It affects families, communities, and nations. The document identifies several key causes of domestic violence in Cambodia including low education levels, poverty, unemployment, alcohol and drug use, gambling, and exposure to violent media. Domestic violence in Cambodia is often considered a private family matter rather than a crime, and Cambodian culture and traditions have contributed to it being a hidden problem with women suffering in silence. Addressing the root causes such as education, employment, and social attitudes is needed to reduce domestic violence in Cambodia.

1. Domestic Violence 2012
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a serious problem, which occurs in many countries. In recent
years, domestic violence or family violence has been recognized as a serious problem
globally and one which not only has many harmful effects on family members but is also
"expensive for women, the community and the nation". The only real common denominator
is that the vast majority of its victims are women because of few causes. Cambodia has been
dominated by war for more than two decades, and its regimes have changed many times. This
has resulted in an unstable social structure, economic slowdown and shortcomings in the field
of education. These are factors adversely causing domestic violence. In Cambodia, people are
not really interested in this problem because they always think that “plates in a basket will
rattle”, meaning domestic conflicts happen inevitably. Many Cambodians think that domestic
violence is normal. As a result, domestic violence or family violence is a serious problem that
effects on family, community, and nation by many causes such as, the low education,
poverty, unemployment, drink, gambling, cinema, mass media, and sex.
First of all, domestic violence is caused by the low education. Domestic Violence
happens almost in every family especially in the area where people are low educated and no
access to information. Domestic Violence is one of Violence against Women forms. There
are many cases of domestic violence publishing on newspapers everyday and mostly women
are victims. There are many reasons behind domestic violence such as drunk and bad temper
of husband and so on. There are some researches mentioned that domestic violence suffered
from gender-base violence which was implemented during Khmer Rouge regime. Domestic
Violence was and probably still considered as family affairs which has nothing to do with law
and rights. People mostly not had a willingness to report to local authority or provide
consultant since they think it is their family problem. In fact, domestic violence is a crime
1

2. Domestic Violence 2012
regarding to Domestic Violence law. Because of code of conduct for women and Cambodian
tradition and culture, domestic violence become a silent crime and causes a deeply suffering
in most of Cambodian women’s heart. Without access to education, information and help
service, women keep silent and think that it is their sin and there is no way besides accept it.
Domestic violence not only destroys the family harmony but also the children’s future.
Children see their father use violence as a normal behavior and usable to their future
wife/husband and children. Moreover, domestic violence might even because the children to
drop out from school since their mother couldn’t afford the family income alone.
Second, poverty effects on domestic violence. Poverty is a big factor in many cases of
domestic violence. The pressure of a job loss; no jobs available and perhaps losing a person's
home or bills piling in is a great deal of pressure. People that are rich poor; different races can
have domestic violence in their home. The person who is the abuser is generally a product of
their environment.
Third, unemployment effects on domestic violence in Cambodia. An extensive 2004
report by the National Institute of Justice found that the rate of violence against women
increases as male unemployment increases. When a woman's male partner is employed, the
rate of violence is 4.7 percent. It's 7.5 percent when the male experiences one period of
unemployment. It's 12.3 percent when the male experiences two or more periods of
unemployment.
Fourth, Domestic violence or family violence is a serious problem that effects on
family, community, and nation by cause drink alcohol or drug, The relationship between
alcohol or other substance abuse and domestic violence is complicated. A prevailing myth
about domestic violence is that alcohol and drugs are the major causes of domestic abuse. In
reality, some abusers rely on substance use (and abuse) as an excuse for becoming violent.
2

3. Domestic Violence 2012
Alcohol allows the abuser to justify his abusive behavior as a result of the alcohol. While an
abuser’s use of alcohol may have an effect on the severity of the abuse or the ease with which
the abuser can justify his actions, an abuser does not become violent “because” drinking
causes him to lose control of his temper. As described more fully in the section on theories of
violence, domestic violence is used to exert power and control over another; it does not
represent a loss of control. Alcohol does affect the user’s ability to perceive, integrate and
process information. This distortion in the user’s thinking does not cause violence, but may
increase the risk that the user will misinterpret his partner or another’s behavior.
Fifth, the gambling also effects on domestic violence in Cambodia. The gambling
often leads to domestic violence because when they play gambling, they need more money,
so they must pay money to play it. However, they have enough money to play, so they do
violent against their wife in order to take money to play gambling.
Sixth, cinema and mass media are also affected on domestic violence because Violent
Movie, Play boy or Ma fear Movie. Can make some people feel to do like. I always saw some
play boy or men (husbands) that lived in Phnom Penh and also rural were talking about
Violent Movie such as Play boy or Ma fear Movie in China or USA movie. After, they
watched these movies already; they always practiced to fight wife or children.
The last cause, it is sex. Why do I think like that? Because sex is the kind of violence
including domestic or publish violence, it mean that when men or husbands want to sex with
their partners or wives, they must force in order to rap also.
Conclusion, Domestic violence is a serious problem in Cambodia, either in urban
areas or in rural areas. The domestic violence occurred between two parties (husband and
wife) or three parties (husband, first wife, and step-wife) and between other members in the
family and self-violence (suicide). The cases that occurred most often in the data are abuses
3

4. Domestic Violence 2012
between husband and wife. In my opinion, I think that we must stop domestic violence or
family violence because it effects to develop community or country.
Reference:
1. Nakagawa Kasumi (2006) “More than white cloth”.
2. Dr.Hean Sokhom (April1999) “The Portrayal of Domestic violence in Cambodian
Newspapers”.
3. http://sokhayouk.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/domestic_violence/
4. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_poverty_cause_domestic_violence_Or_does_d
omestic_violence_cause_poverty#ixzz3sW2wEzRe
5. http://www.examiner.com/unemployment-in-rochester/unemployment-s-relationship-
to-domestic-violence-and-alternatives-for-battered-women-rochester#ixzz3sW1KFE4
4