Phnom Penh--On Thursday, 23 March 2004, the WVC Country Director, Ester Halim, met with H.E. Nhim Thot, Secretary of States, Ministry of Social Affairs Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on After Care for Trafficked and Sexually Exploited Children in Cambodia project. The MoU involves the bilateral cooperation between WVC and MoSVY to achieve the project 3 main objectives: providing a safe shelter for children rescued from trafficking and sexual exploitation, providing long-term care of victims who cannot return to their families, and improving the capacity of faith-based organizations to provide quality aftercare in the next tow years.

Ms. Halim thanked MoSVY for the good cooperation and support they have provided to WVC. She expressed WVC’s commitment to Cambodia by working to serve and protect children from sexual abuses and asked MoSVY to continue to cooperate and support this effort.

H.E. Nhim Thot listed the Ministry’s cooperation with various local and international NGOs to stop the trafficking and exploitation of children in Cambodia. He also highlighted the cases of rescued children who were liberated from brothels and send back to their families. He added that the government still lacks the ability to provide care services and skill capacity building for the rescued children. He expressed his joy and gratitude for understanding the difficulties faced by the Ministry and the Government of Cambodia and thanked WVC for helping to fill the gap via the project. In conclusion, H.E. Nhim Thout assured WVC that the Ministry will continue to extend good cooperation and support to WVC on this two-year project.

Mr. To Savorn, Peace and Justice Program Manager, Mr. Sun Varin, ATSEC Project Manager, and many other staff from the Peace & Justice program, WVC’s Government Relations Unit and the Advocacy and Communications Department also attended the event. The signing was broadcasted on CTN television.