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 A new project to reduce sexual exploitation and abuse of children has been launched by World Vision in Cambodia.
Children comprise half of Cambodia’s population. A recent survey by Tearfund revealed that 63% of girls and 64% of boys say they know somebody who has been sexually abused.
The three-year project will focus its implementation in four areas where World Vision Area Development Programmes exist. These are: Chulkiri District in Kampong Chhanang Province, Leuk Daek District in Kandal Province, Koh Kraloh District in Battambang Province and Svay Pak Commune in urban Phnom Penh.
Programme implementation will focus on:
1) enabling children and youth to develop personal and collective safety strategies to prevent sexual abuse;
2) assisting community leaders and parents to develop mechanisms to safeguard children from sexual abuse and exploitation;
3) assisting in developing local authority understanding and structures to address child sexual abuse, and;
4) strengthening government bodies and NGOs working with children so they have skills and systems to make organisations child safe.
World Vision Cambodia and Save the Children Australia will collaborate in implementing the project with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development.
At the launch of the project, Bill Forbes, Senior Programme Manager for Peace and Justice Programme of World Vision called on everyone to share the responsibility of ensuring Cambodian children live a life protected from abuse and exploitation.
“We are being launched into communities today. I look forward to seeing the creative commitment and energy that will emerge in families, communities, local and national government to protect children.”
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