1. Peace Bridges
Peace Bridges is a strategic partner of the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia (EFC) that provides training and services in conflict prevention and transformation. This review was part of a larger inquiry process to increase understanding of:
i) current violence prevention programs in Cambodia,
ii) the needs of key partners,
iii) and the specialist resources of Peace Bridges and staff training needs.The end purpose of this inquiry was the consideration of the validity of Peace Bridges offering an advanced training component in violence prevention strategies for peace builders who had completed the certificate training in conflict counseling and their partner organizations.
This literature review provided a foundation for understanding what needs and opportunities exist in Cambodia relating to factors and incidents of violent acts in the home. It attempted to synthesize and analyze representative literature, as well as provide a bibliography of articles and books that would be helpful in clarifying issues, understanding trends, and recognizing programs related to violence prevention in Cambodia.
2. Rationale for the project
Violence in the home has been a growing concern in Cambodia and the focus of various studies and programs, even at the highest levels of government (i.e., the establishment of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs). Through the intentional work and education of various organizations, addressing violence in the home has become more culturally appropriate. However, studies continue to show a significant rate of incidence in Cambodian families. Peace Bridges is responding to an expressed need for more explicit training for families, churches and other community groups to respond to the fact of violence in their homes and communities.
3. Scope of the Review
This study combined print and electronic resources from both North American and Southeast Asian/Cambodian contexts. Because the availability of clinical studies was limited in the Cambodian context, resources from a western perspective provided clues for patterns of violent behavior that might also be found in Cambodia. We attempted to balance cultural differences with human commonality.
4. Special Notes & Considerations
This study served a double purpose. First, it helped prepare Peace Bridges' staff to interact with leaders and participants at organizations providing programs and services related to violence in the home as they built networks, increased competencies related to family conflict and completed a small case study research project. Second, it provided a basic document indicating areas that could be addressed to create awareness and educate local peacebuilders about the issues surrounding domestic violence.
The study was also limited by two important considerations. First, Peace Bridges provides education and consultancies in addressing and transforming conflict, not in psychological and sociological services. As such, the study was meant to provide material that can be relevant and adaptable to practitioners and peacebuilders working in their communities. Second, and in relation to the first, materials used in the study were often chosen based on their availability in Cambodia. Literature available locally or online was given preference to hard-to-find specialist or expensive literature. Most of the sources used are also available at Peace Bridges’ electronic and print library, where it can be accessed by peacebuilders.
Peace Bridges is happy to contribute this document as a record of our first step in engaging these issues and as a tool for equipping community peacebuilders wanting a better understanding of family violence. We hope our own understandings have continued to deepen as we discovered more studies, interact with service providers, and participate in research.
For more information or to make recommendations, corrections, or clarifications, please contact:
Peace Bridges
#73 Street 608 Toul Kork
P.O Box 1523
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
office: 023 880 100
e-mail: admin@peacebridges.net
http://peacebridges.blogspot.com/
