Why Violence is the Favorite of the Family

Mr. Chears Tourt, from Ptash Srey village, joined the meeting of viewers’ clubs and shared his experience with domestic violence. He has two children and both of them didn’t go to school because his family is too poor. Actually in the previous time, his family was fairly rich in the village, but later on because he and his wife were drunkards, some properties were lavished. His family became poorer and poorer. Both wife and husband always got drunk when there was no work to do. Mr. Tourt said that when both are drunk they always had conflict together. He had ever beaten his wife to unconscious. Neighbors and his relatives just ignore to his behavior because it usually occurs in this family. So, domestic violence remains concerned in remote village, especially in poor and uneducated family. Local authorities remain hesitate to help their villagers. Right information of the action was not taken effectively. Fortunately, after clubs of listeners and viewers were established, this bad behavior and wrong perspective were changed, Mr. Tourt said. He is now getting to know the mistakes he had done and the committed actions would be sentenced to in prison. He added that he and wife set their tear down after watching video drama and listening to radio program about the law. He finally suggested WMC to continue the activity of the clubs not only for his village but also for other villages where people are unable to access right information and useful information for their daily life.

Gender Issues Remain Existed in Cambodia

Mr. Tes Ty, 49, a villager of Ptash Srey village in Pursat province, told that he and his wife always had quarreled together when he came from work. Because of his limited understanding of his wife’s work, he said; he always complained that he is only a person who earns money for family. He had never realized that his wife’s housework is also important in family. Both often argue when there is no enough food to feed children or themselves. Mr Ty was educated and warned by village chief many times to stop beating wife, and also one organization had ever sent a counselor to educate his family, but his actions were still remaining. However, after watching educational video drama and listening to the Road of Law programs which broadcasted by a moderator of the club, he changed his bad behavior to stop fighting with his wife anymore, he clarified. He became aware of his wife work and hoped to have happiness in his family, he added. From now, he promised to get quarrel with his wife anymore. At the end, he suggested WMC to continue broadcasting informative video and radio programs for villagers in his communities.

Violence Against Women in Cambodia

Mr. Svay Sarun, 37, a farmer living in Ptash Srey village, had experienced to fight with his wife in the case of domestic violence. He has three children. Mr. Sarun said that everyday he had quarreled together with his wife, especially when he came from work and his wife didn’t cook a food for him. When the domestic violence occurred, local authorities like village chief and commune council always warned and educated this family about the law, but no use because they didn’t what the law is; they cared only what they have for eating today. Unable to endeavor with this family situation, Mr. Sarun decided to leave his wife for a year to earn money. However, the problem in their family coherently occurred. Village chief neglected this family because they did not learn the advice and warning education. Fortunately, Women’s Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC) uses the new initiative approach to reach the remote villages by establishing Listeners’ and Viewers’ Clubs. Ptash Srey is one of ten villages in Pursat province to have a club operation. Mr. Sarun said after watching the education entitled “Deurm Kro Sang” and series of the informative radio programs, he thinks he made many mistakes with his wife in family. He added that beating the wife has no any profit for his family; in contrast, his children couldn’t study well because of domestic violence in family. At last, he told that from now on, he will help his wife work and improve the living standard in this family and he also would like to thank WMC for bringing educational video and radio programs to his village. These videos have influenced his life a lot to change his bad behavior.