The University of Cambodia

College of Social Science

Subject: Research Methodology (RES301)

Lecturer: Travis Mitchell
Session: Morning

Research Topic: “Knowledge and Perspectives of the University of

Cambodia Students on Gang Rape on Women”
Group 2: Chem Raksmey
En Malen
Hue Metheaviny
Sok Chhengleang

Academic Year: 2020 – 2021

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 Table of Contents
Acknowledgement
I. Introduction
1. Background of Information
2. Problem Statement
3. Research Questions
4. Research Objectives
5. Significance of Study
6. Scope and Limitation
II. Literature Review
1. Causes of Gang Rape
2. Effects of Gang Rape
3. Challenges to Gang Rape Solutions
III. Research Methodology
1. Research Design
2. Data Collection and Sampling Technique
3. Data Analysis
IV. Findings
V. Discussion
VI. Conclusion
VII. Recommendation
References
Appendix A

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 Acknowledgement

Foremost, we would like to express our deep sense of gratitude to our Professor: Mr. Travis
Mitchell, whose gave us an opportunity to do this project under the theme: Knowledge and
Perspectives towards Gang rape on Women. We are, as a term, able to pull this project off with
success within the time, hence should be thankful and thankful to our professor regarding all his
assistance from kind, valuable guidance and instruction throughout the course, from the start to
the end. Once again, thanks is not enough to express my gratitude to our supportive professor as
he always provides many constructive feedbacks that help improve our research paper.

Beside our professor, all of the achievement in this project would be thankful and grateful to the
rest of our team members for all of the hard work and dedication provided by: Chem Raksmey,
Sok Chhengleang, Hue Metheaviny, and En Malen. Without their sustained effort and
commitment, our project would not have done with success and completed it on time. So having
you guys on the team has a huge impact on this project so far.

Last but not the least we are making this project, not only the marks but also we have highly
benefited from researching in different websites and lots of literature reviewed. These are the
chances given to us as to gain the expertise regarding the theme and many more. And we gave our
valued more credit to the authors (researchers) as we are doing our own literature review. More
over our literature review will be documented which aimed to contribute a useful documentary
pattern to junior researchers as for those who are interested to know in this field.

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 Knowledge and Perspectives of the University of Cambodia
Students on Gang Rape on Women
Chem Raksmey, En Malen, Hue Metheaviny, and Sok Chhengleang
The University of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Abstract (Sok Chhengleang)

In Cambodia, gang rape is commonly known as “bauk” that more than two people involve
in raping, which causes suffering to female victims particularly. When it comes to resolving
the case of rape, it is very difficult for the victims. There were convictions in 12 of the 16
gang rape cases and in four of those, only some of the perpetrators were tried and convicted
(Licadho, 2015). Some of them even consider accepting unlawful compensation to end the
case. This research paper analyzes how students at the University of Cambodia perceives
causes and effects gang rape as well as alternative solutions to improve the procedure of
seeking justice for justice for victims. An online questionnaire was conducted to gain
information and opinions from 100 students. This research has found that gang rape is a
major product of sexual entitlement and men’s consuming alcohol. Respondents also
agreed to the huge effects of gang rape on victims, victim families, communities, and
society as a whole. Believing there were alternative solutions for resolutions, the most
preferred ways claim justice for victims such as legal procedure, life imprisonment,
sentence to death, and rehabilitations for criminals. The least preferred are restorative
justice and shaming. They suggested how important it is to help victims by strengthening
the legal system and victim’s security, empowering women through education and training
related to sexual awareness, showing support to them from the family and society.

I. Introduction

1. Background of Information (Hue Metheaviny)

In Cambodia, gang rape on women has become one of the factors as a result of gender
inequality to feminists, rape is primarily motivated by the man's desire to dominate the woman.
Gang rape, also called serial gang rape, group rape, or multiple perpetrator rape, is the rape of
a single victim by two or more violators (Ullman, S. E, 2013). It is commonly called “Bauk”
in Khmer language which literally means “plus”. Gang rape occurs when a group of people
participate in the rape of a single victim. Gang Rape are forged on shared identify of the same
religion (Neumann, Stephani). In Cambodia, rape and gang rape are critical issues in its
society, where women seem to tolerate this violence in silence even though this criminal is
treated as an aggravating factor under Cambodia law meaning that the penalty. The
perpetrators are often group of young, middle and upper-middle-class men, out for a good time,
and who believe that gang rape. Sympathetically, the victims suffer mentally and physically,
but this case is almost considered normal. Therefore, this topic should be paid much attention
to help victims gain better justice instead of keeping silent.

2. Problem Statement (Sok Chhengleang)

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Gang rape is victimizing women silently, but the perpetrators keep committing; community
looks over this issue. The World report (2013) found that men considered it sexual pleasure
with no legal actions. The cases keeps increasing that NGO CARE International (2013) in a
survey of 192 motorbike taxi drivers revealed that in Cambodia, gang rape phenomenon
appeared to have spread all over the country, but victims become helpless. Considered as one
of the most suffering victims, female sex workers are prone to be duped by and abused
physically by their customer, but they remain tongue-tied because of tolerance and service fees.
4 sex workers had shared their similar stories being forced brutally to have sex with a group of
men unplanned according to Southeast Asia Globe (2013). In response to these findings, the
Ministry of Women’s Affairs (2017) established five-year action plan, the Steering Committee
on Violence Against Women and Violence Against Children and four Technical Working
Groups (TWG) with members including government, development partners, civil society
organizations, UN agencies, and youth to promote commitment and collaboration across
sectors—health, social welfare, education, justice and at all level from national to lower level.
Still, the cases of gang rape are solved illegally and unacceptably. The book of “Sex, Love and
Money in Cambodia” composed by Hoefinger (2014) has demonstrated that some victims are
persuaded to accept compensation whereas some keeps it confidential. In the future, this issue
will be worse. Therefore, this situation drives us to conduct a study to seek opinions and
solutions to help overcome this challenge with the victims and considers it a serious issue in
society.

3. Research Questions (Sok Chhengleang)

Choosing the University of Cambodia students as targeted participants, this study is conducted
by proposing three main questions for giving more information:
1. To What Extend Are the University of Cambodia Students Aware of Gang Rape on Women
in Cambodia?
2. What Are the Causes And Effects of Gang Rape on Women?
3. What Are Possible Solutions to Do Justice to Gang Rape Victims Besides Compensation?

4. Research Objectives (Sok Chhengleang)

Sexual violence especially gang rape on women has become of the factors hampering gender
equality that we see how female suffer from this. Seeing this subject matter not individually
but also in the world, we would like to conduct the research hoping to achieve three main
purposes:
● To comprehend the causes, effects, and solutions of gang rape and the victims more crucial.
● To seek the attention of the public to be aware of this issue that can cause crucial damage
on both society and women.
● To analyze the perspectives of the students on the students and seeks their help for solutions
to gang rape victims.

5. Significance of Study (Sok Chhengleang)

This research study will help to give more information about gang rape issue which can affect
the progress of gender equality in society. Moreover, it may help to raise awareness of the

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suffering and tolerance of gang rape victims. This study hopes to gather more opinions to see
to what extent gang rape is recognized as an issue in society. Most importantly, it will help
readers recognize how important it is to have the targeted participants give better opinions and
options for the victims to demand justice for the victims as university students play important
roles for social development in the future and provide academic perspectives.

6. Scope and Limitation (Sok Chhengleang)

In this study, only 100 students of University of Cambodia will be asked to participate in our
survey due to time shortage to conduct the research and convenience. The method of collecting
both primary and secondary data is using online platforms. About secondary data, it relies
mainly on online documents and sources which are available for us to read and download.

II. Literature Review

1. Causes of Gang Rape (En Malen)
The UN took four years to understand the motives of men attitudes toward gang rape in
Cambodia. Unlike other Southeast Asia countries, Cambodia’s main cause of gang rape is not
alcohol and the statistic has surprised the author of the UN report (UN report, 2020).

1.1. Sexual Entitlement

Sexual entitlement is major causes of rape and viewing woman as a sexual subjugation
(Entitlement leads to sexual assault, 2020). Gang rape in Cambodia is linked with the
aspects of culture of sexual entitlement (Wilkinson, Bearup, and Soprach 2005). Forty five
percent of gang rape in Cambodia is caused by the believed that they have rights to sex
regardless of consent (Henderson, 2020). Most of men in Cambodia think that rape is more
acceptable than masturbation, and they felt they entitle to sex disregarding partner or non-
partners (Al Jazeera, 2020) & ("UN Women", 2020).

1.2. Drug and Alcohol

According to the survey Al Jazeera, alcohol or drug involved fifteen percent to the reasons
of gang rape in the country (It's a man's world, 2020). Lately, gang rape is rapidly
increasing because of drug using especially in the tourism destinations. The southwest
provinces of the capital, known as top drug have increased trafficking and high rape cases
("RFI", 2020).

1.3. Fun or Boredom

It is a surprise for a tiny country in Southeast Asia, Cambodia. The same interviewed done
by Al Jazeera showed, fun and boredom as well as punishment featured more prominently
in Cambodia, eighty one percent of the reasons of gang rape. Perpetrators believe that gang
rape is a male- bonding experience (The Phnom Penh Post). They want to create a good
relationship with their friend. Hiring a sex worker, for instance, costs fifteen dollar per
night and paying just one prostitution to save money. Prostitutes also think that “Bauk” is
part of their job to serve customers (People Health Development Association, 2009). There

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 are also few recreational opportunities for young people ("NPR Choice page", 2020).
Lastly, the men who committed rape think that it’s funny ("Peace Women", 2020).

2. Effect of Gang rape (Chem Raksmey & Hue Metheaviny)

2.1. Effect on victim
After the attack, the victim may have very painful and violating experiences that can be in
short or last long. Some victims manifest their emotions while others prefer to keep it, and
others tell right away, and others will wait until they have the courage before disclosing
the incident, if they do so (Resilience, 2020).

Firstly, there are three main effects on the Survivors. This includes severe physical and
psychological effects (RAINN, n.d); and is experienced with social stigma. First, the
victims will react to the physical affected after the rape including unwanted pregnancies
and disease or health issues that can be possible infection of HIV/AID and other sexually
transmitted diseases and physical injury - if it is severe, can be related to death (WHO,
2002).

Secondly, sexual abuse have the psychological effects on victim may include severe
anxiety, depression and; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Tarzia, L., et al, 2018) as
some signs include: repeated flashbacks or nightmares, reduce daily activities. As in the
interview by VOA Cambodia, Taing kim, she was a victim of carded raped in Khmer
Rouge. She told in the interview, as she always flashbacks on her experience of being
chased by soldiers every night. (Socheata,H &Neradey.M, 2017). Some studies showed in
research with the similar outcome, Victims who are experienced of sexual assault tend to
lead themselves into suicidal thoughts or suicidal attempted.(Ullman& Brecklin,2002;
Ullman & Najdowski, 2009). As a case in Cambodia, of a 17-y, who was sexually assaulted
by her father, then she attempted suicide because of her engagement had been canceled
after of being raped. (The ASEAN POST, 2019).

The other point is that the victims can be faced with social stigma blamed by the society.
Even a community leader said, “They are too revealing or the way females dress” (The
ASEAN POST team, 2019). Victims may receive further threats from the rapist or his
family and not encourage themselves to open their case or file suit as they were scared to
ruin their family’s reputation or herself. As a result they remain silent or unspoken. In some
cultures, the victim's family tries to force their daughter to marry a rapist in order to keep
the family's reputation.

Ultimately, we conclude that any types of rape is affiliated with an increasing the lifetime
rate of suicidal attempted after the victim had a hard time to deal with their traumatic
experiences. (Van Egmond M.,et al., 1993). Consequently, it will affect the quality of
women’s lives.

2.2. Effect on victim’s family

The effect of physical and psychological not only affects victims but also their family.
(Hertz, D. G., & Lerer, B., 1981), (Sarah Crome & Marita P. McCabe, 1995) showed that

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 rape has to be considered as having severe traumatic implications for family as well. Rape
trauma in victim may impose the family to stresses originating from individual
psychological conflicts, previously maladaptive interactions, and other psychological and
cultural pressure. For instance, victims’ experiences may limit their participation or
develop antisocial behavior which may impose hardship on family (Licadho, 2004).

The majority of studies only focus on the effects of sexual assault on the victims.
(Edinburgh.L., et al, 2014), Pacific Standard, (2014) as always neglected its effects on
family, where a few, studies on the consequences of sexual assault on the community and
family (Licadho, 2004), (Adolfsson K., 2018), ( Hertz, D. G., & Lerer, B., 1981), (Sarah
Crome & Marita P. McCabe, 1995) were with too little information. Hence, Sarah Crome
& Marita P. McCabe (1995) suggested that the consequences of rape on family functioning
should be required to further research as most researcher neglected in this area.

2.3. Effect on community

As with any form of physical or sexual violence, gang rape is not only effects on the
survivor themselves, but also community. It pulls apart in the form of community well-
being. Schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities may feel fear, or disbelief if
a sexual assault occurred in their community. People in community especially women and
girls, feel insecure for their personal safety net as in general fear of crimes and specifically
fear of rape where its happen anytime, on them, or even their family’s members. Therefore,
it will affect their quality of lives (The Advocates for human Right, 2006). On the other
hand, if the victim disclosed their case, and any sexual assault are unreported, unpunished
the rapist, resulted it will be recalled the crimes again. So at the end, the repeated incident
occurred in the community (Adolfsson K., 2018, p.11, 12). Additionally, there will be
financial costs to communities such as health care costs can include addressing medical
needs and mental health services.

3. Challenges to Gang Rape Solutions (Sok Chhengleang)

In Cambodia, the Law on Criminal Procedure specifies that a criminal offense can lead to two
separate legal actions: a public action that may not be settled by any arrangement on Article 7 and
a civil action that a victim’s claim for damages from the perpetrator and also find the truth on
Article 55 (Ministry of Justice, 2007). This means when women are sexually assaulted in any
actions including gang rape, they can claim to sentence or prosecute the criminal. Ministry of
Women’s Affairs (2014) has also implemented the Second National Action Plan to End Violence
against Women (2014-2018) including primary prevention which focuses on stopping violence
before it happens through education and media actions to change behaviors, especially those of
men and boys. However, most of Cambodian women choose unlawful “compensation” to settle
the case. There were convictions in 12 of the 16 gang rape cases and in four of those, only some
of the perpetrators were tried and convicted (Licadho, 2015). About 45 percent of men who
admitted rape said they faced no legal consequences (Fulu, E., 2015).

There are some challenges for victims especially women to seek justice respectively and legally
despite being sexually violated which is a criminal. First, it is because of female victims. A female
victim of gang rape from Kandal province decided not to file her complaint to the court due to

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poverty that her family could not afford to go to court (Kimsay, 2015). Most rapists threaten their
victims not to tell anyone about the crime (Licadho, 2004). Second, it is because of the weakness
of the judiciary system. According to Amnesty International (2010), their interviews with 30
female victims of rape from across ten provinces in Cambodia, and around a dozen of their family
members indicated the fragile practices of courts such as lack of victim-friendly courtrooms and
staff, male dominance in the legal profession and criminal justice system, and corruption and costs.
Third, it is because of social stigma. 18 percent of men and 21 percent of women said that when a
woman is raped she is usually to blame for putting herself in a vulnerable situation (Fulu, E., 2015).
Fourth, it is because of ignorance of media coverage that makes victims voiceless. As UNDP
representative of Director, Marshall (2017) stated about trivialization and jokes of media on rape
victims by recalling the case of a Cambodian TV host who casually joked on air, about the rape
and murder of a woman. Looking at the similar context, in India where gang rape is common, to
hide the identity of the Delhi gang rape victim, the names such as ‘Nirbhaya’ (fearless), ‘Amanat’
(treasure), ‘Damini’ (lightening) and ‘Jagriti’ (awareness) were used in the print media (Kaur,
Anthropol 2013).

In sum, there are plenty of researches on gang rape, but most of which are concerned with only
causes and effects, not solutions. Most importantly, the previous researches have not studied about
the knowledge and attitude of university students towards gang rape, especially seeking
considerable solution from the students. This has brought us attention to inspect how Cambodian
university students perceive gang rape on women and brings them attention to view the issues
more seriously so that they can use it as a case study and then evaluate in the future, an unheard
issue in society.
III. Research Methodologies (En Malen)

1. Research Design

In the research, questionnaires method tool was used to study perspectives of the University of
Cambodia students towards gang rape. We divided our survey questions into sex sections with
closed and end-opened questions - background information (sex, term, major, etc.), knowledge of
gang rape, perspective on the cause of gang rape on women, effect of gang rape, perspective on
challenges towards solutions, and perspectives towards other methods beside unlawful
compensations. We also informed respondents that we kept their information anonymous and
confidential.

2. Data Collection and Sampling Technique

Our survey targeted one hundred students' perspectives. We were seeking to discover student
perspectives from various majors, terms and sexes. We distributed our questionnaires through an
online platform, Google form, which allowed participants easy access and convenience for us to
gather data accuracy. Additionally, the materials used for this research including the internet and
social media. We sent this link of questionnaires directly to our friends as well as used the snowball
method by asking our friends to pass our questionnaires to their classmates.

3. Data Analysis

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We sort out questionnaires into several forms- multiple choices questions and drop down questions
to ask for their background information, Likert-scale and matrix questions to asked for their
perspective towards gang rape as well as ended our project by opened questions. All the responded
answers were automatically recorded in Google sheet. Then we analyzed our recorded data and
categorized them. For open questions, we did the content analysis.

IV. Findings (Together)

Our project questionnaire was divided into two major sections. The first section was used to collect
respondents' background information including their majors, sexes, terms and current addresses.
Second section was designed to gather general perspectives of the participants and end up our
survey by opened questions in order to seek for specifics information towards gang rape on women
in Cambodia.
According to data collections, among 100 respondents- 69 female respondents, 28 male
respondents and the rest prefer not to say. Concerning their colleges, 57 students are from colleges
of Social Science, 23 students are from the Tony Fernandez School of Business, 13 students are
college of Business and the rest from other colleges. Additionally, 31 students enroll in term 7, 24
students are studying in term 6, 14 students are studying in term 8 and 18 students are studying in
term 5, 6 and term 9 and the rest are from various terms. Regarding their current address, 56
students are living in Phnom Penh while 44 students are living in different provinces in Cambodia.
Based on our research questionnaires in term of their understanding on gang rape in Cambodian
context, most of our participants aware of gang rape, only 26% of them haven’t known much about
gang rape. In question which gives various options about places that gang rape is likely to occur,
most of respondents chose rural area (75.2%), city (41.6%), and residential areas (40.6%), and
tourism destination (32.7%). Only a few of them added alternative ideas including dark, small
blocks, and quiet and destitute places. However, when responded their understanding on legal
solutions of gang rape, only 24% of them aware of legal solutions towards gang rape on women
in Cambodia whereas the rest seem not to be aware of it.
Regarding the causes of gang rape in section 3, most of our respondents believed that sexual
entitlement (78%) is the main cause of gang rape following by Alcohol (48%) and Fun or Boredom
(48%). The least popular is social acceptance (21%).
In the same section concerning with the causes of gang rape, there were five statements used to
observe their attitude towards gang rape. In the first dimension, “Men believe that they have the
rights to have sex even without consent”, most participants including both male and female tended
to disagree with this. In the second dimension, the attitudes of the respondents were seen as
negative since half of the respondents disagreed. In the third dimension, the result shows that the
respondents (strongly disagree and agree) believed that prostitution does have rights to refuse to
customers according to graph below. In the fourth dimension, the level of positivity slightly
increased as; however, they remained sensitive to the fact that Khmer norms influenced the causes
of gang rape. In the last dimension, most of the respondents could not decide whether they agreed
or disagreed; nonetheless, the negative reactions remained higher compared to the level of
positivity.

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 Figure 1: Students’ perception on the causes of gang rape
Discussing the perspectives of students on the effects of gang rape, as the respondents could choose
more than one option, the data has shown that they supported the ideas that victims (79%) and
victim families (78%) would suffer from traumatizing experience of gang rape. They also believed
that communities (63%) and social image (54%) will be affected. Only a few of them chose society
(3%) and other (1%).

Figure 2: Students’ comprehension on the effect of gang rape on victims

As demonstrated in Figure 2 (as seen above), the data had shown that most of our participants
agreed with the first, second, fourth and fifth statement which had (35%) , (38%), (37%), along
with (36%) state agreement. Therefore, we can understand that they also concerned with this
issues, as they perceived that the effects of gang rape was an atrocious and sickening effects to the
victims, family of victims as well as community. In contrast, there were a few participants were
voted for strongly disagree (which the rest of respondents below than 7%) with all five statements,
as they opposed to the fact that victims of sexual assault, family and community were not effect

11 
by gang rape. The third statement (Victims are discriminated against by members of society, and
society blaming on), which had 31 respondents who stated they agreed on that point. Thus, it shows
that society tended to impose social stigma on victims as putting the blame and pressure. Moreover
there were also many respondents, who kept a neutral to the second and third one, which means
they had no idea.
The next section is about
perspectives on
challenges towards gang
rape solutions in figure 3
as graph listed below.
Our respondents tended
to agree with the last
four statements, except
the first two statements
related to victims’
accepting money and
protecting family
reputation. These first
two statements have
Figure 3: Students’ perspective on Challenges towards Solutions
“neutral” highest,
which we can conclude that they could not decide. They believed external factors including a weak
judiciary system, society, and media were the most challenging barrier for the victims. This has
proved that these kinds of events still exist; therefore, victims are likely not to trust and hide their
issues instead.
As we discussed above about the challenges, we have come up an idea to let them consider
alternative solutions for fair judgment on gang rape. The result has demonstrated that the most
preferred solutions from our respondents are legal procedure and court (62%) and life
imprisonment (60%). The average preferred solutions are sentence to death (32%), rehabilitation
for criminals (32%), and restorative justice (30%). The least preferred is shaming (1%).
By allowing them to elaborate more on their selections, we received both positive and negative
reactions. For legal procedure and court, they believe laws will punish criminals in accordance
with the law which depends on how much the act of the violence on the victim fairly and safely.
Also, it is believe that legal system will help decrease gang rape rate, but they suggest law and
government should be effective and transparent. About life imprisonment, it was agreed for
decreasing the crimes, taking away freedom from the criminals, and showing humanity more than
sentence to death or penalty. However, sentence to death has received mixed reactions. Some
respondents believed that the criminals should deserve what they have done and show the higher
level of authority whereas some thought it was aggressive. But then few respondents believed it
should be applied in exceptional case, gang rape plus murdering. Considering rehabilitation for
criminals and restorative justice, some of our respondents believed that people deserve the second
chance to improve themselves. Out of 100 respondents, only one believed shaming is effective as
they will be embarrassed and learned from their guilt.

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In open-ended question which our respondents were asked “In your opinion, what should be
improved to encourage victims of gang rape to report the crimes for legal solutions?” we have
received 89 responses out of 100 responses. We have received various ideas and suggestions which
can be applied to reality. Most of them preferred to strengthen government and law implementation
along with the fully-investigated and anti-corrupt authority. They suggested the involving
organizations and officials should provide crucial care for victims in terms of privacy and security
for the victims. There are some of our respondents who believed campaigns and awareness of this
issue should be widespread through training and education to empower women. There should be
any privilege given from society that women are fearless to speak up their concern especially when
it comes to reporting this case. They also wanted victims themselves to be brave to report the file
and to seek support from their families.
V. Discussion

The objectives of our research project is to analyze the UC student perspective towards causes,
effects and solutions of gang rape on women in Cambodia. Throughout the analysis, we has seen
that the respondents were aware of gang rape, but compared to legal solutions, almost half of them
was not knowledgeable enough as they kept neutral (48%) and did not agree (28%).
Considering the causes of gang rape, our participants believed that sexual entitlement (78%) and
alcohol (71%) were the major causes of gang rape. However it left us a bit questionable when it
comes to rating statements. Students are most likely to disagree with the first, second, and third
statements in figure 1, which was opposing to what we have done researched in literature review
from the study of Wilkison, Bearup, and Soprach (2005), Henderson (2020), and UN Women
(2020). For the statement considering that Khmer norm is one of the causes of gang rape, they
could not opt that they remained neutral (34%).
Additionally, according to our finding on the effects of gang rape, our participants tended to agree
that gang rape really effect victims (79%), victim’s families (78%) and communities (63%) which
we found it similar to previous studies, from Ullman and Brecklin (2002); Ullman and Najdowski
(2009), Licadho (2004) and Adolf son (2018) in our literature review.
Regarding to the challenges towards legal solutions, our data collections has shown that
respondents believed that weak judiciary system, families reputation, threats from perpetrators,
and media ignorance were their major challenges to reveal the criminals which shared common
results from Licadho (2004), Amnesty International (2010), Fulu (2015) and Marshall (2017).
However, the other two statements about victims accepting compensation and protecting family’s
reputation make respondents indecisive that they left it neutral. So, we found it slightly different
from previous research of Hoefinger (2014). It was a bit surprising that the UC students suggested
other legal procedures including life imprisonment and sentence to death believing that this crime
is just unacceptable.

VI. Conclusion (Together)

We confidently concluded our result of the perspectives of UC students on gang rape that gang
rape is believed to exist in the society, but they believed men is not the main cause that increase
gang rape cases, which is backlashed against the research article of Al Jazeera titled “It’s a man
world” (2013). By allowing them to suggest what factor to encourage women for justice on gang

13 
rape, they pushed to strengthen judiciary system, help women understand about this issue through
education and training, and societal role.

VIII. Recommendation (Together)

Eventually the results are acceptable to generalize, it was conducted in only few months with a
relatively small sample size and at the University of Cambodia. We are not certainly assured to
say that other universities or other sectors may understand and respond the same way as our
project. For further research, we suggest that there should have larger size in terms of sampling
and up-to-date reference for reliable and accurate information. As it is a qualitative research that
many questions are options-given and open-ended, we highly recommend future research
regarding the mixed methods and useful data.
The Authors
CHEM Raksmey is a BA student majoring in International Relations at The University of
Cambodia. Her email address is cheamreaksmey168@gmail.com.
EN Malen is a BA student majoring in International Relations at The University of Cambodia.
Her email address is enmalen123@gmail.com.
HUE Metheaviny is a BA student majoring in International Relations at The University of
Cambodia. Her email address is huemetheaviny@gmail.com.
SOK Chhengleang is a BA student majoring in International Relations at The University of
Cambodia. His email address is chhengleang1818@gmail.com.

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Amnesty International, 2010. BREAKING THE SILENCE – SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN

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Books

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Appendix A

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