Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association

Report Shows Progress for Indigenous, But Disparities Persist 

The launch of the 2024 National Report on the Demographic and Socio-Economic Situation of Indigenous Peoples on December 12 at the Cambodian Hotel, attended by officials from the Planning Ministry, UN, and Indigenous groups. (CIPO)
The launch of the 2024 National Report on the Demographic and Socio-Economic Situation of Indigenous Peoples on December 12 at the Cambodian Hotel, attended by officials from the Planning Ministry, UN, and Indigenous groups. (CIPO)

Cambodia’s indigenous population has made strides in Khmer literacy and school attendance but still faces stark gaps in areas such as healthcare and land rights, a new report by the Ministry of Planning and the Cambodia Indigenous People Alliance (CIPA) found, with gaps noted in prior reporting.

Published on December 12, the National Report on the Demographic and Socio-Economic Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia draws on 2019 census data, the most recent available, with researchers citing the years of analysis needed to ensure the report’s comprehensive scope.

According to the census, Cambodia is home to 22 indigenous groups – although official records vary with 27 groups recognized by name. 

In 2019, the total indigenous population was 172,000, accounting for 1% of the country’s total population. Six groups – Bunong, Tompoun, Jarai, Kreung, Kui, and Prao – constitute more than 85% of the native community, with the majority residing in the northeast region. 

While the report noted incremental improvements in these groups’ lives, long persecuted and neglected, it coincided with persistent challenges, including encroachment on ancestral lands and exclusion from development plans.

“Supporting indigenous development contributes to the country’s overall progress and ensures no one is left behind,” said Yun Mane, executive director of the Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization (CIPO), stressing the need for clear data on indigenous communities to shape plans that address their needs.

Mane urged the government, ministries, and development partners to maintain cooperation and provide technical and financial support. She called for indigenous needs to be integrated into ministry plans and national strategies, pressing the Finance Ministry to allocate an inclusive budget.

Bin Troachhey, Minister of Planning, officially launches the National Report on the Demographic and Socio-Economic Situation of Indigenous Peoples. (CIPO)

As calls to action continue, progress has been made, but it remains uneven across various sectors.

More than half of the indigenous population is literate in Khmer as of 2019, a 22% jump from the last measurement in 2013 and with a narrowing gender gap. Meanwhile, three out of four indigenous children aged 6-13 are regularly in school, a 26% increase in attendance since 2013, according to the report. However, most indigenous adults still only have a primary education.

Although increased literacy and school attendance rates may grant indigenous communities more inclusivity and economic mobility, access to adequate healthcare and sanitary living conditions remain limited. 

Illnesses such as influenza, dengue fever, and typhoid are prevalent, and many rely on private clinics or pharmacies for care. Hygiene remains a critical issue, with more than half of indigenous households lacking toilets compared to the national average of 17%, census data found. 

Although access to clean water has improved, the urban-rural divide continues.

The report also documented more communities registered as legal citizens, granting them access to state services.

While the Planning Ministry and CIPA reported that collective land titles (CLTs), a program aimed at securing land rights for indigenous communities, cover more than 33,000 hectares and benefit over 3,200 families, only 43 out of 458 indigenous communities have received CLTs since the program’s 2011 launch – far below the government’s goal of ten communities per year.

During the report’s launch, Planning Minister Bin Troachhey acknowledged that indigenous communities lag behind non-indigenous groups in development, pointing to gaps like limited electricity access and an incomplete education pipeline.

Troachhey said the ministry is working to tackle these issues and pledged to include solutions in Cambodia’s National Strategic Development Plan, a five-year blueprint for policies, spending, and strategies to meet the country’s development goals.

“We hope reports like this inspire action and partnership, leading to the resources needed to close socio-economic gaps,” said Sandra Bernklau, UN Population Fund representative, after the event.

302 views