Cambodia

Government ministries have sent a message “reminding” Cambodian youths – particularly girls and young women – to remain virgins this Valentine’s Day.

Sivann Botum, a Ministry of Women’s Affairs secretary of state, said her ministry had partnered with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day to educate young people about the importance of following their culture.

Police officers would also look out for young couples having sex tomorrow, Botum said.

“On Valentine’s Day, if the authority finds couples under 18 staying in rooms of guesthouse, the guesthouse owners will be fined or punished,” she said.

With Valentine’s Day popular with young people, especially middle-class youths in the capital, authorities took an aggressive approach to couples who retreated to guesthouses last February 14, deploying police officers to check customers were over 18.

By Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Shane Worrell
The Phnom Penh Post
13 February 2013