Nary* was only 15 when she was trafficked from Cambodia to Thailand, easy prey because of her longing to escape poverty and a violent home environment. Upon arrival in Thailand, the recruiter arranged to have her sold.  Fortunately, Nary was saved by a girl who had previously been trafficked by the same recruiter, and took the return border crossing on her own. 

At the border she met a policeman whom she recognized as her neighbor.  The police advised her not to return to Thailand because he feared for her safety due to exploitation. Nary also noticed there were other girls like her crossing the border; not all of them were treated so well, and some were forced to hand over their hard-won earnings in order to return home. 

The role of cross-border collaboration in reducing human trafficking is vital, yet stories like this show that there are still many obstacles to overcome. 

According to Mr Noun Rithyniron, Coordinator of World Vision's Regional Advocacy anti Child Trafficking project, there are also big gaps between Cambodian and Thai agencies who provide services for children and parents. 

"Trafficking of women and children is very much prevalent on the border provinces of Thailand and Cambodia and there is a need to strengthen cross border collaboration between Cambodia and Thailand government officials," he said. 

"Our vision is to support a process to develop stronger policy environment to protect the vulnerable from trafficking and provide better services to the victims of trafficking." 

With this objective, World Vision Cambodia will host a two-day bilateral collaboration workshop between Cambodia and Thailand to identify possible interventions to strengthen cross border collaboration to combat human trafficking on 27-28 March 2008 in Cambodia, Banteay Meanchey province. 

The workshop will bring together nearly 100 leaders from Government ministries, law enforcement agencies, private sectors and Non Governmental Organizations and local authorities to strengthen qualities of specific cooperation and set up network between Cambodia and Thailand towards addressing the issues of human trafficking across the border. 

Human trafficking has become the third largest source of profits for organized crime, proceeded by arms and drugs.  The US Department of State reports that approximately 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year, 80 percent are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors.  

For further information contact:  

Mrs. Chamnap Nay
Communications Team Leader
World Vision Cambodia
HP: 012 75 95 65

* Name changed to protect the victim's identity.