Women inmates with young children receive food and financial support from prison officials in celebration of International Children’s Day on June 1. Prison department
The government has announced a new policy which will see financial support provided to incarcerated women who are pregnant or have children under two living with them in prison.
The support includes payments at the prenatal, childbirth and postnatal stages.
A June 6 sub-decree – made public on June 12 – outlined details of the payments.
Phase 1 will provide payments of 80,000 riel ($20) for each of up to four pre, or antenatal checkups.
Phase 2 will provide a one-time payment at birth. The payment will be 400,000 riel ($100). In the case of multiple births, an additional 200,000 riel ($50) per child will be paid.
Phase 3 will provide payments of 80,000 riel ($20) for each of up to ten medical expenses; three postnatal checkups and seven vaccination appointments, until a child reaches two years of age.
Financial support will also be offered in the case of miscarriage or still birth, but not abortion. In the case of maternal death, payment will be made to the primary caregiver.
According to Kheang Sonadin, spokesperson for the General Department of Prisons (GDP), there are currently 57,000 inmates nationwide, including 3,500 women. Of them, 53 are currently pregnant, while 94 are caring for children under two years of age.
“The 53 women became pregnant before incarceration. The number fluctuates, depending on changes in the prison population,” he explained.
He added that current laws allow mothers to raise their children inside prison until they turn three. Currently, 112 children under the age of three are living with their mothers in prison.
To be eligible for financial support, pregnant inmates must have either a provisional or final court order for their detention, and must have received at least one prenatal checkup at a public health facility. They must also present a maternal health book issued by the public health service.
If a mother is enrolled in the programme, her child is automatically enrolled as well and must have a child health card. If the mother was not previously enrolled, the child can still be enrolled if they have a health card, the mother's court order, and a document confirming they are residing with the mother.
The sub-decree confirmed the new programme is funded by the National Social Assistance Fund (NSAF).
The Ministry of Interior, through the GDP, is cooperating with the relevant government institutions to implement the new programme.
