Recent reports of violence and police discrimination against men who have sex with men (MSM) in Cambodia has led to calls for NGOs to integrate civic education into their HIV programmes to counter the stigmatization and prejudice being encountered.
Last month (13 June) Recheany, 24, was beaten to death by a group of students. The incident began after Recheany stole a mobile phone but many believe the severity of the beating he recieved was due to the fact that he is known to sleep with men.
A few weeks ago (2 July), four people, who were arrested in Siem Reap Province after committing a crime in a restaurant, were identified by local press as MSM. This also happened in Recheany’s case. These reports have aided the stigmitization of MSMs who are being labelled as criminals and ‘anarchy people’.
A large number of MSM and entertainment workers (EW) are now being arrested by police for walking and sitting in public parks. Police say the arrests are to keep the public and social order but amount to illegal arrests and detention.
“Budgets should be allocated for MSM community meetings to discuss or learn about how to redress their rights violations and they must know about their responsibilities,” said Peou Pheakdey from Save Incapacity Teenagers (SIT).
“MSM have been stigmatized and discriminated in different ways in Cambodian society. The stigmatization and discrimination includes isolation from home and society, self-separation, illegal arrest and detention, different treatment by family, friends and medical doctors, being jobless or losing their job, extrajudicial killing, mob killing, torture, money extortion, physical assault and so on,” said Mok Sokha, Program Officer, National MSM Network/Bandanh Chaktomuk.
“Stigmatization and discrimination against MSM may result to reluctant or refused to health service, risk-taking behaviors, unemployment, no justice, and non-participation in political, social and cultural life. MSM are also citizens or veins of a country,” said a human rights activist, who asked not to be named.
“Forum or training is necessary to have MSM know about their legal rights and the legal procedures to solve their right violations. MSM must speak out about abuses and bring those who violate their rights to justice. We should have a specific law to promote and protect MSM rights,” said Peou Pheakdey.
“There are a lot of things to do if a specific law is needed to prevent discrimination against MSM. It should have campaigns or key events to get the public support,” said an NGO staff member, who asked not to be named. “First NGOs who works to support MSM should help MSM not participate in any criminal offenses or street crimes, consider vocational training and arts, encourage them to seek higher education and make the public and policy makers see that they are part of country development. Primarily, I agree they must know about their human rights and responsibilities. They must know how to prevent themselves from arbitrary arrest and detention by police.”
“It is difficult to talk straightaway about rights of MSM before getting families and the whole society understand about MSM behaviors. MSM people in other countries work very hard and a lot do claim their rights. MSM in Cambodia should look at their struggle. However, I primarily agree that civic education is necessary for MSM to carry out their roles as citizens,” said a lawyer from a UN agency.
HIV, TB and reproductive health among MSM is sometimes seen as one issue with legal rights and responsibilities seen as another. However, many are now arguing that the integration of civic education in HIV, TB and reproductive health programmes is key to preventing human rights violations.