From trial, to turmoil, to treatment
by Chamnap Nay, Nov 2006

Decades of poverty and political conflict in Cambodia have contributed to the increasing migration of families from rural areas into smaller towns. Many of them, especially children, find themselves in difficult circumstances including sexual exploitation.

Fourteen year-old Din is a Vietnamese immigrant. Her family immigrated to Phnom Penh in 1980 following the Khmer Rouge regime. “In Vietnam, the rice growing didn’t provide us with enough money. We were starving so we decided to migrate and work in Phnom Penh,” says Chang Deap, Din’s grandmother.

Life in Phnom Penh was not easy. Din, her parents and grandparents invested much energy, time, and struggled with daily challenges. “My parents seldom spent time with me, they were too busy,” recounts Din. “I wished they could have spent more time with me.” But Din’s wishes never came true.

When Din was five years old, her father fell into a love affair leaving the family in emotional and financial turmoil. Cambodian patriarchic culture makes it difficult to divorce. Women are often frowned upon by the community and ridiculed by both families. The lack of women’s rights and law enforcement coupled with Cambodia’s complicated legal process made it legal for Din’s father to return at will to demand financial support.

Din’s mother stayed in the relationship despite neglect and physical and emotional abuse. Out of fear and family pride, she felt obliged to continue to support the abusive husband. Whenever her mother refused his requests, he would beat her.

“My father beat my mother harshly when she refused to give him money. I tried to help her but my father kicked me out,” says Din. One night, Din’s mother ran away, leaving Din to live with her grandparents as an orphan.

One day, 13-year-old Din was invited by a cousin for a sleepover. With her grandparents’ permission, she went to her relatives home, 15 kilometres away. While there, Din’s aunt tricked her into visiting another home, claiming Din’s grandmother had given permission. “I wasn’t excited about going, but went anyway.” She was told to dress up for a garden visit. But the visit never came. Within a half hour, Din arrived at an isolated house. “The house was very quiet with nobody inside. My auntie told me that it was her friend’s house,” recalls Din. Her auntie told Din to wait inside while she left to buy a few things at the market. “My auntie promised to return, but four hours later came a big black man with long beard rushing towards me,” recounts Din.

Based on his look and appearance, Din guessed he was from India. Suddenly her mouth and hand were tied with a scarf. “He was very big when he pushed me, I had no energy to defend myself,” says Din. “I thought he’d kill me, I wanted to call out to my mother and grandparents but could not shout.” Her clothes were torn and she was raped three times that first night. “I was imprisoned in that house. The man kept doing the same thing to me every night,” she says.

For two months, Din was locked in a room where her screaming could not be heard. No matter how hard she tried, no one came to her rescue.

“During daytime, my legs, arms and mouth were tied.”

One day, the man arrived home in the middle of the day and made a gesture to Din, which she understood to mean she could return home. “He untied my legs and arms and gave me $10 to leave,” says Din.

Din rushed out of the house to the main road and found a motor taxi to bring her home.

Cambodia has long been known as a haven for foreign pedophiles. According to a tourism official, in 2005, 1.4 million tourists visited Cambodia. Tourist arrivals in the first nine months of 2006 jumped 17 percent from the same period last year to 1.18 million. Many children like Din are sold from US$50 to up to US$800 to brothels catering to Cambodian, Thai, and other foreign sex tourists.

The government took a promising stance to reduce child trafficking five years ago, with the formation of the anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection department. Although arrests and prosecutions have increased, the justice system remains weak due to a lack of enforcement.

When Din arrived home, her grandmother and neighbour were anxious to know what had happened to her for two months. After hearing Din describe her nightmares, “My grandmother and some of our neighbours cried,” says Din.

She was glad to return home initially but soon realised that she didn’t feel the same as other children. Her physical and mental wounds from the abuse made her feel different. “I thought I was no longer a good girl for having my virginity taken away from me.”

Fortunately, one of her neighbours brought Din to meet Sin Kim, a staff member from World Vision’s Trauma Recovery Centre. Operating since 1997, the centre provides a protective and supportive environment to support the rehabilitation of girls recovering from sexual abuse. Although a report was made to the local police, both Din's auntie and the foreign offender had already escaped.

“After arriving at the centre, I felt like I was coming over the hill to heaven because just a day before I was imprisoned in a dark room with my legs and arms tied and had nothing to eat,” says Din.

At the centre, Din made new friends with the other girls as she learned to read and write basic Khmer and English. She learnt skills in hairdressing, cooking and knitting as part of helping her deal with the trauma she had endured and found she enjoyed these activities during her six months stay. But she was anxious to return home despite the new friends and staff at the centre.

“The center staff loved me and took care of me like their own daughter. I found it enjoyable to learn new skills at the center, especially hairdressing. Now I know how to apply make up and color my nails,” says Din. Din’s grandparents acknowledged that Din has changed a lot since returning from the center.

“I send my appreciation to World Vision for providing care to girls like Din,” says her grandfather, reflecting on how Din returned home from the centre happier.

“I’d like to work harder to be able to support Din in her study, especially English, since she’s already learned some basic English from the Centre. I am glad she can speak a little English."

For one year, the Trauma Recovery Centre staff continued to follow up on Din’s progress. World Vision provided Din and her family a bicycle, food and other food resources. To assist the family with living expenses and school, World Vision paid two months worth of rent and school expenses.

When asked what she wants to do in the future, Din paused several seconds then uttered, “I want to learn more, so that I can qualify to work for a big company or start my own business.”

« All Feature Stories