Young people in Cambodia have been urged to avoid
"losing dignity" this Valentine's Day, as authorities issued warnings
about the pitfalls of premarital sex.
The education ministry ordered schools to "take
measures to prevent inappropriate activities on Valentine's Day".
It added that the occasion was "not tradition of our
Khmer nationality".
Sex before marriage, particularly among women, is considered
taboo in Cambodia.
Valentine's Day has become popular among young people in the
Southeast Asian country in recent years, with many shops and street stalls
selling flowers like roses wrapped in pink and red cellophane and heart-shaped
goods around the time.
But people with more traditional, socially-conservative
beliefs view it as a foreign celebration that threatens the country's Buddhist
culture.
The Chbab Srey (the Code of Conduct for Women) outlines the
behaviour expected of women and girls in Cambodia. It suggests that women must
be "virtuous" and central to domestic life, according to the UN.
The ministry of women's affairs joined calls to couples
celebrating on Wednesday, saying some people "misunderstand the
meaning" of Valentine's Day.
And the ministry of culture weighed in by asking authorities
and parents to remind children to use the day "in line with the beautiful
Khmer tradition for the sake of their honour and dignity".
Cambodia's National Aids Authority also urged people to
avoid engaging in sexual activity and asked them to mark the occasion by
celebrating their love for family and friends.
Cambodia is not the only country where 14 February has
caused controversy in the past.
From 2008 to 2019, religious police in Saudi Arabia banned
the sale of Valentine's gifts, including red roses, as authorities considered
the celebration un-Islamic.
In India and Pakistan, religious groups also previously
protested against Valentine's Day celebrations, saying they are an insult to
Hinduism and Islam.
