Child abuse and exploitation continue to be daunting issues the world over. In Asia, 12% of the total child population is engaged in child labour, 40% of young women were married before age 18 (child marriage) and 48% have permissive attitudes towards domestic violence. Child trafficking is closely tied to each of these elements of abuse and exploitation. The situation in Cambodia is particularly bleak. The country’s incidences of sex slavery are unacceptably high; it is estimated that there are close to 80,000 to 100,000 sex slaves and prostitutes in the country. In other words, one in 150 people are sex slaves or prostitutes. The majority of the victims are women and children who find themselves selling their bodies in and around the urban areas of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanouk Ville where demand is the highest. In light of these staggering figures, the fact that trafficking remains pervasive in the country almost goes without saying. As we move into 2011, Cambodia remains a major receiving, sending and transit country for human trafficking, both for sex and labour. A recent UNAIP report indicates that poverty, socio-economic imbalances between rural areas and urban centers, increased tourism, and lack of employment, education and safe migration are all contributing factors to trafficking in Cambodia. The desperation to survive and the lengths people are forced to go to create a global imperative for action, as trafficking is one of the most abhorrent forms of abuse.
Sao Sary Foundation commences its fifth year of working directly with communities to prevent such atrocities from happening. Collaborating with the Women’s World Summit Foundation, and with the support of the many generous donors, SSF aims to develop awareness and a culture of prevention around the topic of abuse and violence against children. As such, on the 20th of November 2010, SSF held its 3rd annual World Day for Prevention of Abuse and Violence Against Children. This year’s theme was Adults and Young People Unite for Better Prevention of Abuse and Violence Against Children. Accordingly, the 150 workshop participants included SSF staff, volunteers and students, adult villagers, local authorities from Kraing Ampil and Rokha Thom communes, Groundwork Opportunity’s visiting team and three featured guest (former trafficked individuals). Choosing to focus on trafficking, the day was full of presentations and open dialogue, small group discussions, role-playing, guest speakers, and a continuous stream of questions and answers. It was a day where everyone worked together toward raising awareness, brainstorming prevention strategies and expanding and sharing knowledge. One student explained that listening to the labor trafficked guest speaker was very powerful, sharing:
I had a similar experience where a stranger asked me to go work for him, but I knew that he was lying so I told him “No.” I know that people can be dishonest and I can share with my friends that they need to be very careful about people asking them to work because now I saw what could have happened if I decided to go.
It was not just the participants listening to the experiences of others that proved powerful. For Srey Pov, sharing her experience as a sex trafficking victim was important because I wanted to share my life because I wanted to tell the children, especially the girls, not to follow my way. They needed to know that they should build a better life in society. Srey Pov was sold into sex trade by her uncle with $150.
By the day’s end, the workshop enabled participants to not just understand the complexities trafficking, but through collaboration and communication recognize that trafficking can happen to anyone, and that EVERYONE must work together to prevent it.
Continue reading to hear more about what participants had to say about the workshop…
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