SIEM REAP, Cambodia, October 31, 2010 (AP) - Pledging to do more to help end the scourge of sexual slavery, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited a rescue and rehabilitation center for child prostitutes in northern Cambodia on Sunday.
Before touring the famed 12th century Angkor Wat temple complex, Clinton met with a group of about 50 victims of human trafficking at the U.S.-funded facility in Siem Reap and promised them continued American support.
"I am so proud of you," she told the girls and young women, most of whom are between 17 and 23. They receive an education and vocational training that includes weaving and sewing lessons.
"You motivate me," she said.
Clinton listened as one young woman, Vann Sina, recounted her story of being abducted at 13 and forced to have sex with 20 to 30 men a day for more than two years before being rescued from a brothel.
"To be a victim is very hard," she said, recalling how she did not understand what she was meant to do when she was told to "sleep" with a customer. "I cannot forget. Sometimes I dream and I get very scared."
The Siem Reap center received a $336,0000 grant from the State Department last year to fund its operating costs and Clinton said she would make sure money continued to flow.
"I wanted to come here today to see you for myself," Clinton said.
Clinton, on a tour of northern Cambodia, is about as far away as one can get from the intense political battle going on back home. Her husband and fellow Democrats are campaigning frantically ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections.
A self-proclaimed ex-politician, Clinton is barred from partisan political activity while serving as America's top diplomat.
The former first lady, New York senator and presidential hopeful is in the midst of a two-week, seven-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific. She won't be back at work in Washington until a week after Election Day.
10 comments:
Excellent photo.
Kuoy Pichet
All Cambodian-Americans in America need to vote Madame Clinton as the next president of the United States. She looks like a real mother in this snapshot photograph. Wait, she is actually a real mother. She has a thriving successful daughter named Chelsea in America.
កូនខ្មែរនៅឯស្រុកខ្មែរមិនដួចកូនខ្មែរនៅេក្រៅប្រទេសនោះទេ។បើលោកស្រីស្តាប់បក្យប្រឆាំងនិយាយ
ពិតជាស្រុកខ្មែរជាស្រុកអនាធិបតេយ្យហើយតែ
ផ្ទុយទៅវិញប្រទេសកម្ពុជាគឺមានសេរីភាពគ្រប់គ្រាន់
ក្នុងការនិយាយនឹងធ្វើអ្វីៗបានទាំងអស់។លើកលែង
តែពួកមួយក្តាប់តូចដែលដើរបង្ករវឹកវរគ្រប់ទីកន្លែង
ដែលបានធ្វើឲ្យប្រទេសខ្មែរមានឈ្មោះមិនល្អទាលតែសោះ។តែទោះជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ពិភពលោកគេមិនជឿជនទាំងនោះនិយាយដែរ។
a powerful and meaning image for the dictators of south east asia to see, that is Mr. Hun Sen and his friends. You CPP leaders need to see and think hard whether you have any conscience at all for the khmer people.
KNM
First Lady Rany would not dare hugging any of these formerly untouchable girls...
Khmer Ek Oudoms and Choumteavs are mostly good only for showcasing and window-dressing.
This is quite amazing to have the Secretary of State of the superpower nation of the USA to do this--so down-to-earth cause. I truly admire Mrs. Hillary Clinton's dedication and work. She is so down to earth and caring person, even though she is a person in power of a superpower nation.
Thank you so much Mrs. Clinton for treating Khmer like a human being again!
KHMER Angkor
Warm welcome to Mrs. Hillary Clinton! Down to hell ah Hun Xen!May Khmer people kill you and your clans or Yuon illegal immigrants.
I am so proud of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and You motivate me.I believe u are the next President of United States After 8 years of a President Barack Obama in the office!(White House )
I have supported former President Clinton, Secretaty of State Hillery Clinton, President Obama and First Lady. As one of Cambodians in USA, I am proud to have Secretary Hillery R. Clinton visiting my country.
My family and I love you
Khmner in USA
Yes! keep Hun Sen in power so you have victimes to take pictures OP!!!
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