History
The 1992 UN Mission To Cambodia
The global AIDS pandemic and UN intervention in Cambodia collided in 1992
James Wharton
30th April 2021 at 5:45pm

WARNING: This article contains graphic images and descriptions of genocide and human suffering.

In 1992, the United Nations deployed what was at the time the largest and most multinational peacekeeping force in its history to war-ravaged Cambodia. More than 21,000 UN personnel from 46 countries around the world arrived in the Southeast Asian nation.

The outcome of the UN intervention was stabilising what had been decades of war in the country, the implementation of a democratically elected government, and the repatriation of more than 350,000 refugees.

However, in the years following the mission, influential individuals involved in the running of Cambodia placed criticism on the United Nations for wider consequences faced by Cambodians following the UN's withdrawal in 1993.

One such prominent accusation came from the King of Cambodia, King Norodom Sihanouk. He accused the UN Peacekeepers of introducing HIV to the country and its people.

His criticism joined that of US Government-funded think tank The East-West Centre, who in a report about the UN mission was frank on the subject of HIV. Their report, titled UN Peacekeeping Missions: The Lessons From Cambodia, stated:

"[UN] personnel helped introduce the disease into Cambodia and are also taking the HIV virus back to their home nations."

By 1995, two years after the end of the UN operation, Cambodia was one of the most impacted counties in the region of HIV / AIDS, which was minimally present before the UN's mission.

Here, BFBS explores the historical backdrop to the UN's 1992 intervention in Cambodia and investigates whether the criticism faced by the UN on the topic of the AIDS pandemic is fair.
Full article here: https://www.forces.net/heritage/history ... n-cambodia

I believe I read that in 2019 there were around 1800 deaths from hiv/aids in Cambodia. Way down from the numbers even a decade ago.

Are the people generally well educated on the use of protection, and are they willing to use it? I would imagine so due to the drop in infection numbers, but where I'm at now in the states, I feel that people are using protection less than a decade ago since the fear of HIV is declining due to expanded treatment options.

Many can't read or write. It's almost like those billions in aid was diverted somewhere else. In general the answer is that many are not well educated in any subject. Apart from maybe fish farming and theft

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 3:50 am Various officials have suggested that the UN brought prostitution to Cambodia. Yet reading the guides for US foreign diplomatic corps in the 1950s describes how "Taxi Dancers" were to be found at many popular night spots.
I'm certain that prostitution expanded a lot with the huge influx of foreign aid workers and UN staff and ready money in the early 90s, but as before and after, the majority of customers were local.

To add to that, there are various interesting first-hand accounts from the French of the rampant prostitution along the port area in early reports of the Water Festival. From what I've read, going to the prostitutes right after the boat races was until fairly recently still an unofficial tradition for the racers and a sort of bonding experience. It's perhaps not so surprising that these still exist, albeit I'm guessing the port wasn't as far north as it currently is). Later on, the French would usually put up with, but at various times attempted to to stamp out brothels in multiple areas (often with Vietnamese girls).

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 2:26 pm

fsdfdsdf wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 9:51 am Many can't read or write. It's almost like those billions in aid was diverted somewhere else. In general the answer is that many are not well educated in any subject. Apart from maybe fish farming and theft

What billions in aid? Are you talking about UNTAC? Do you have any idea how much it costs to carry out a mission like that? They imported about 3000 Landcruisers for a start. UN staff got something like $150 a day just for spending money, on top of their salaries. Typical bar stool blathering. You obviously didn't read or get the article (Many can't read or write...the irony!) because the AIDS program in Cambodia was one of the most successful ones in the world.

Maybe but most of the girls I meet are indifferent to condoms, some even refuse. but I guess that could just be the effect I have on them