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Purpose of the Cambodian Street Children Profile 2009
The overall purpose of the SCP 2009 is to gather information in order to improve
knowledge of, analyse and understand the ongoing changes of the target group
– Cambodian Street Children and Youth. However, based on the methodological
challenges of compiling such information (will be further elaborated in the forthcoming
sections); it is only possible to make projections of the composition, number and
practices of Cambodian street children.0
The main objectives of the SCP 2009 are based on the following four topics:
i. Acquire information on the approximate amount, basic demographics,
background characteristics, and needs of street children/youth in six
central towns in Cambodia;
ii. Provide information of street children/youth primarily to the CSCN
members, but also to donors, the Government and other stakeholders;
iii. Harmonise monitoring indicators, allowing better project design and
implementation for the individual CSCN members;
iv. Reinforce a common CSCN advocacy strategy.
Defining Street Children/Youth
There is no set definition of what constitutes a Street Child. The challenge has thus
been to develop a suitable definition to apply in the CSCN study of Cambodian street
children that as well is applicable for comparing with other studies on the issue. The UN
has defined the term Street Children to include ‘any boy or girl… for whom the street
in the widest sense of the word… has become his or her habitual abode and/or source
of livelihood, and who is inadequately protected, supervised, or directed by responsible
adults’. However, this definition needs to be specified towards the great number of
CSCN
CSCN Street Children Profile 2009
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