Saturday, 19 March 2011

Cambodia limits foreign men marrying Cambodian girls

via CAAI

March 18, 2011

Fearing of false marriages and human trafficking, Cambodia has limited rights and access of foreign men who want to marry Cambodian women, a government official said Thursday.

Koy Kuong, a spokesman of Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the ministry had sent a diplomatic note to foreign embassies and consulates in Cambodia that foreign men are now limited their full access to marrying Cambodian women.

He said the note regulated that any "foreign man who wants to marry Cambodian woman must be under 50 years of age and has an income of at least 2,500 U.S. dollar per month".

He said this new regulation came into effect on March 1, 2011.

Koy Kuong said with the new regulation enforced, Cambodian women will not be traded as slaves, false marriages or human trafficking.

He said foreign men who come to their ages of 50 will sooner or later get retired and will earn less money to secure a decent life with new wives.

However, this regulation is criticized by local nongovernmental organizations that deal with human rights, saying it is a discriminatory act against women.

Kek Galabru, president of Licadho, said the government should instead provide better education and improve women status.

She said women shall enjoy full rights as men to choose their love ones regardless their ages.

Source: Xinhua

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