Original report from Washington
28 October 2009
The sex trade continues to thrive in Cambodia, despite an anti-trafficking law and crackdowns on brothels, an advocate for a leading foundation says.
“The brothels have closed, but the brothel owners won’t be defeated, said Vann Sina, a monitor for the anti-trafficking Mam Somaly Foundation. “It means that they’ve changed into something else, but are still in the sex trade. They’ve changed from brothels to guesthouses, small grocery stores, small karaoke parlors, cafes, massage clubs, restaurants, and sex businesses along the parks. As I said, it’s almost everywhere.”
The foundation was started by Mam Somaly, who herself escaped the sex trade and has become an award-winning advocate protecting young women and girls. Vann Sina gave a talk in Washington last week, in talks sponsored by Free the Slaves, a US non-profit group.
While some brothels have gone underground, Vann Sina said, others remain, with girls as young as five years old serving clients.
Vann Sina, too, was a victim of sex trafficking, brought from Vietnam to Cambodia at age 13, her virginity sold to a Westerner. She suffered druggings and constant abuse when she refused to serve clients until she was rescued by Afesip, another organization run by Mam Somaly, where she became staff.
She urged Cambodia police and other authorities to strengthen their laws and work to end the trade.
“The laws may be ineffective or they may not be implemented well,” said Betsy Bramon, of Free the Slaves, which is based in Washington. “Maybe the system is very corrupt, and that is a very serious problem in Cambodia.”
Law enforcement officials in Cambodia say the Ministry of Interior and local authorities have greatly reduced human trafficking.
Cambodian police have never tolerated any trafficking of women and children, which contradicts the dignity of Cambodian culture, said police spokesman Kirt Chantharith.
“Anyone who knows about the activities related to the women and children trafficking or any other crimes, please report to our police,” he said. “We have two lines for phone calls. You can call free via 117 and 118.”
Sources are confidential, he said.
“The brothels have closed, but the brothel owners won’t be defeated, said Vann Sina, a monitor for the anti-trafficking Mam Somaly Foundation. “It means that they’ve changed into something else, but are still in the sex trade. They’ve changed from brothels to guesthouses, small grocery stores, small karaoke parlors, cafes, massage clubs, restaurants, and sex businesses along the parks. As I said, it’s almost everywhere.”
The foundation was started by Mam Somaly, who herself escaped the sex trade and has become an award-winning advocate protecting young women and girls. Vann Sina gave a talk in Washington last week, in talks sponsored by Free the Slaves, a US non-profit group.
While some brothels have gone underground, Vann Sina said, others remain, with girls as young as five years old serving clients.
Vann Sina, too, was a victim of sex trafficking, brought from Vietnam to Cambodia at age 13, her virginity sold to a Westerner. She suffered druggings and constant abuse when she refused to serve clients until she was rescued by Afesip, another organization run by Mam Somaly, where she became staff.
She urged Cambodia police and other authorities to strengthen their laws and work to end the trade.
“The laws may be ineffective or they may not be implemented well,” said Betsy Bramon, of Free the Slaves, which is based in Washington. “Maybe the system is very corrupt, and that is a very serious problem in Cambodia.”
Law enforcement officials in Cambodia say the Ministry of Interior and local authorities have greatly reduced human trafficking.
Cambodian police have never tolerated any trafficking of women and children, which contradicts the dignity of Cambodian culture, said police spokesman Kirt Chantharith.
“Anyone who knows about the activities related to the women and children trafficking or any other crimes, please report to our police,” he said. “We have two lines for phone calls. You can call free via 117 and 118.”
Sources are confidential, he said.
6 comments:
Thank you Mr Chantharith for your confirmation on working against crime of sexual exploitation.
To have learnt that even 3 years old forced to serve client is heartbreaking.
Are we animals or sexual preditors?
One thing for sure, these sexual appetites are from the riches and powerful where money can buy.
It indicates that our morality and buddhism practice is really low, in term of understanding the values of what we have.
Buddhist monastry and community have to find a better way to relief the suffering. Passive way of bddhisim practice is no longer effective, an active approach is required for our social circumstances.
if we all can't go through heaven(peace) on earth, then we will never reach heaven. Doing some goods to clean up the bad deeds committed,is no Buddhism.
Accepting the fact that sex is part of living kingdom, but it has to be physically appropriate and consented for living pleasure( a combined of physical, emotinal and psychological inter-pleasure),as we are not animals in regards of races or religions.
Let's work together to find real peace.
Neang SA
If the cambodian government and the NGOs are so keen to stop child prostitution, why don't they close the Sony Restaurant on Street 214 where they still sell girls 10,11, and 12 years old to Korean men. They keep them in a small room in the back. This is not a joke.
The crime of sexual abuse and exploitation in Cambodia now interestingly increase. Here shows the weekness of the police. Most of the victims are underage who are poor and uneducated. If you read newspaper such as Kohsantepeap, Raksmey Kampuchea, you will see.
Mr. Rights
Will Ms. Vann Sina, Mam Somaly, and Betsy Bramon please tell us the badge numbers of the policement to whom they reported the crime of trafficing 5-year old children? Who are the witnesses? These policemen must be indicted for dereliction of duty. Or did they not report this heinous crime to the police? Hmm, why not then? A child's life is much too important to use for "fundraising" purposes. You have this publication, use it to publicize the corrupt police if it is true, otherwise please stop making Cambodia look like a giant child-sex brothel with no morals!
Very easy!!!
Publish all the adresses and the owners' name on the net.
When a crime has been comitted, we all know because those that have commited the crime are sent before the courts or put in jail. Where is the evidence of someone being put in jail. There is none, but there is plenty of evidence of NGO's making up figures to help them get more money
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