ECPAT Cambodia

Overview

“The trafficking of children is a violation of their rights to protection from exploitation, to play, to education, to health and to family life.”

As many as one third of sex workers in Cambodia are children. The recent years have seen a surge in the number of commercial sex centers in Cambodia, and increasing exploitation and abuse of children in the sex trade. Every month, hundreds of Cambodian children are trafficked into Thailand to work in prostitution, begging, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, fishing, and domestic service. They work in conditions tantamount to slavery, subject to debt bondage, illegal confinement, sexual and physical abuse, exposure to HIV in the brothels, and wrongful arrest as illegal immigrants.

What Is Child Trafficking?

The trafficking of children constitutes one of the worst forms of child labour. It can occur within one country, across national borders or between regions, and involve several actors. Various means are used to entrap the victims, including persuasion, deception, threats, coercion, and kidnapping. Sometimes it is the children themselves or their families who take the initiative to migrate or approach recruiters. Generally, they rarely understand the risks involved and the nature of the suffering they will face.

Who Are The Children?

They are both boys and girls below the age of 18 years. The Children who are sexually exploited and trafficked generally come from poor, rural families or are homeless children living on the street. Most children are driven into the commercial sex sector and forced labour by poverty and the disire to help support the family. For some, it is their only means of survival.

Who Are The Child Traffickers?

Trafficking is a complex chain that involves many intermediaries. Any one who partakes in the transportation, sale and exploitation of children is considered a child trafficker. It can be any body, from mafia members, businessmen, hotel/club owners, government officials, and tourists, neighbors, friends and family of the victim.

Why Are Children Sexually Exploited?

Children are easier to lure or coerce into forced sex. The demand for sex with young girls and boys has increased in the fast growing commercial sex sector.

Why Should We Care?

Because the exploitation of children constitutes one of the most evil and heinous acts. Prostitution is a death sentence for many children. The consequences on both children and their communities are far- reaching. Some die and many suffer permanent damage to their physical and mental health. If trapped in commercial sexual exploitation, a child is at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS.