Phnom Penh: Minister of Information Mr. Neth Pheaktra said that preventing early marriage is not a violation of the good traditions of the national society.
On the occasion of opening a workshop on “Preventing the effects of early marriage and teenage pregnancy” on the morning of the 30th April 2026, the Minister of Information stated that gender work, work on girls, and work to prevent early marriage are not the work of any one sector alone, but are a joint mission of the Royal Government, public institutions, the media, families, schools, communities, partner organizations, the private sector, and society as a whole, while around 640 million girls around the world are married at a young age. He said that of these, almost half of the young brides are in South Asia, about 45 percent, equivalent to about 290 million.
Mr. Neth Pheaktra emphasized that early marriage is not just a private family issue, but an issue of human rights, public health, education, economy, and gender equality. and the future of the nation’s human resources.
He emphasized that a girl who is stopped from studying due to early marriage is a potential that her family, community and society have lost. Therefore, protecting girls is protecting the future of the family, community, and nation by looking at this issue beyond a marriage or a family decision.
The Minister continued that when a girl loses the opportunity to study, society loses a human resource. When a girl faces pregnancy at a young age, the family and community also face health, economic, and social risks. Therefore, preventing early marriage is not a violation of the good traditions of the national society, but rather a protection of the future, dignity, and ability of girls to fully develop.
He added that early marriage and teenage pregnancy are global issues that have been raised by the United Nations as a major topic in the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly meetings by the world organization. Considers early marriage to be a violation of the human rights of girls and adolescent women, which hinders the enjoyment of their rights, development of their capabilities, social participation and dignity.
According to the results of the 2022 Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey, 1.8 percent of women were married before the age of 15, 17.9 percent of women were married before the age of 18, and 6 percent of men Married before the age of 18.
