In August 2008, CCJAP III
sponsored four workshops run by the Department of Hospital o Ministry of Health and the National Forensic Examination Committee.
The three main purposes of the
workshops were:
- Strengthening forensic medicine (Forensic
Examination Committee: Standard and Sexual Violence Documents);
- Dissemination of Guidelines on Sexual
Violence of World Health Organisation; and
- Exchanging the experience between actual
practices and guidelines.
The two-day workshops were held
in Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Banteay Meanchey, and Kampong Cham provinces with a
total of 117 participants attending included 55 doctors and physicians, 25
nurses and 37 midwives from provincial hospitals, referral hospitals, and
health centers.Topics discussed during the
workshop included
- The Report on National Forensic Examination in
2007;
- Examination certificates and health
certificates;
- Forms on sexual violence report;
- Definition and types of sexual violence;
- Health impact after being sexual violated;
- Assessment and examination on adult victim of
sexual violence;
- Record and classification of injuries;
- Test and analysis on sample, forensic
examination, and training;
- Sexual Violence on children - Document
preparation and reporting;
- Selection
of lessons for training to health civil servant; and
- Implementing on forensic examination form in
Cambodia.
In 2003 the Ministry of Health
established an Inter-Ministerial Working Group comprising representatives from
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, National Medical Committee, and the Cambodian
Defender Project in order to develop Forensic Medical Guidelines with technical
support provided by CCJAP. The Ministry then established provincial and
municipal forensic examination committees and national forensic examination
committee in 2004 and also conducted a workshop to disseminate the forensic
medical guidelines on injury examination. With agreement from H.E. Professor
Heng Taikry Chairman of National Forensic Examination Committee; and with
support by CCJAP, especially Forensics Adviser Mr. Alex Wells, the Department
of Hospital conducted these workshops on Guidelines for medico-legal Care for
Victim of Sexual Violence and using of forms to provincial and municipal
forensic committees in order to assist in issuing standard forensic medical
examination to provincial/municipal court.
The instructors on the course
were:
Dr. Sok Srun, Deputy Director of
Hospital Department Member
of Committee
Dr. Luek Se, Deputy Director of
Municipal Hospital Member of Committee
Dr. Nhem Chanthun, Deputy
Director of Kosamaek Hospital Member
of Committee
Dr. Ouk Chanphoat, Chief of
Legislation Section, Kandal Member
of Committee
The facilitators on the course
were:
Dr. Som Seyharath, Deputy Chief
of Office Facilitator
Madam Dr. Sim Sansom, Department
of Hospital Facilitator
Miss Pharmacist Ouk Romenia,
Department of Hospital Facilitator
Similar training courses have
been run in some other provinces under the sponsorship of World Vision.
This training forms part of multifaceted approach of CCJAP to improve access to justice for women, children
and other vulnerable groups. While CCJAP
assisted with the development of the Forensic Medical Guidelines and sponsored the
conduct of the workshops, all the organization and presentations were done by
Cambodian health care professionals.
The CCJAP Forensics Advisor and Sexual Assault
Medical Specialist have also worked with key counterparts, the Ministry of
Health, MOWA, Police and NGOs (Social Services of Cambodia) support victims of
sexual violence. The objective of the sexual violence program is to build
institutional support for victims (sexual assault survivors) and to strengthen
institutional capacity of exhibit management and handling relating to sexual
crimes. This approach is intended to improve access to justice for victims of
sexual crimes (women and children). This approach is seen by NGOs as the only (whole of justice) approach in Cambodia to survivors of sexual assault. Most
other government and NGO are concentrating on either strictly health or legal
support for sexual assault survivors where our program addresses all facets of
survivor management and ensures that they have equitable and fair access to
justice.
CCJAP is also working with the CNP to enhance
their evidence collection and management skills at crime scenes and plans to
introduce specialised training to assist investigators in the conduct of sexual
assault investigations.
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