Cambodia was the first country to undertake the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) in Southeast Asia. The Government of Cambodia led the implementation of the VACS in 2013, and launched the VACS report in 2014.

The Ministry of Social Affairs Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs led the implementation of the Cambodia VACS, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Government of Canada, PEPFAR, and UNICEF.

Using the findings from the VACS, the Government of Cambodia developed a costed, multi-sectoral national action plan to prevent and respond to violence against children. The country’s commitments span across sectors, with gender-sensitive strategies integrated into sectoral goals, cross-ministry coordination, and attention to the participation of children.