Cambodia

VOICE opened an office/resource center in Siem Reap, Cambodia in July, 2008. Our work aims to provide direct legal, social, educational, financial and medical services to those who are vulnerable to the trafficking/sex trade.

WHY CAMBODIA?

• The Vietnamese are the single largest minority group in Cambodia. The number of Vietnamese who work as direct sex providers represents as high as 30% of the total number of commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Cambodia.* Although there is much debate over the actual number of CSWs, few dispute the fact that Vietnamese comprise a significant proportion of the female CSWs in Cambodia, a number disproportionately high when measured against the total number of Vietnamese residing in Cambodia;

• Research and correspondence with NGOs on the field in Cambodia have confirmed that there are currently no Vietnamese overseas NGOs with offices in Cambodia to help the Vietnamese;

• Prevention activities, as well as the response to trafficking victims (social services and legal assistance) do not match the extent of the need for them, rendering Vietnamese even more vulnerable. Very few NGOs employ Vietnamese speakers and fewer have ethnic Vietnamese on staff;

• The Vietnamese are a marginalized minority because of the historical animosity between Vietnam and Cambodia. For this reason, Vietnamese living in urban Cambodia are more vulnerable to trafficking and sexual exploitation.

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*There is no official population figure available, but estimates range from 5 – 10 percent of the country’s total population of about 14 million: J.K. Reimer, “At What Price, Honour? Research into domestic trafficking of Vietnamese (girl) children for sexual exploitation, From urban slums in Phnom Penh, Cambodia”, Chab Dai Coalition (Joining Hands), May 2006 at p. 5