With Cambodian prisons often facing scrutiny, our writer Joanna Mayhew takes an in depth look at the treatment of young people caught up in the system. As part of the cover feature, two former juvenile convicts tell of their chilling time behind bars, where they were kept in over-crowded cells, left malnourished and at times mistreated.
Faced with little support on their release, many youngsters become caught in the cycle and often return to a life of crime. However, several NGOs are working with prisoners to break this cycle by providing a glimmer of hope to the incarcerated. This comes in the form of a series of courses equipping them with life-skills, education and employment opportunities.
