World Vision project mobilizes communities in protecting young people against sexual exploitation and abuse
13 September 2006

“Today is a great day for all of us committed to protecting children from violence, especially sexual abuse and exploitation”, enthuses Mark Channsitha, Program Manager for the Mobilizing Communities for Child Protection Project during it’s launch attended by officials from the government and representatives from national and international partners.

The project, which is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development seeks to contribute to a reduction in sexual exploitation and abuse of children in Cambodian communities. Children comprise 50.3% of Cambodia’s population.

Guy Ruediger, Charge d’ Affaires, Australian Embassy in Cambodia conveys his agency’s enthusiasm with the project, particularly for its emphasis on ‘enhancing the capacity of government and civil society to reduce vulnerability of children to sexual abuse and exploitation.

The three-year project will focus its implementation in four areas where World Vision’s long-term community based Area Development Programs 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.

Program 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 that they have skills and systems to make organizations child safe.

Chan Sovan, Deputy Director, Anti-Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department, Ministry of Interior, speaking on behalf of H.E. Prom Sokha, Secretary of State, Ministry of Interior, conveyed the Royal Government of Cambodia’s profound gratitude to the government of Australia for its commitment to strengthening institutional capacity to combat sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

World Vision Cambodia and Save the Children Australia will collaborate in implementing the project.

Two important research projects, each facilitated by World Vision Cambodia and Save the Children Australia informed the activities of the Mobilizing Communities for Child Protection Project.

World Vision’s ‘It’s as if they were watching my body’, study examines the impact of exposure to pornography and the development of attitudes towards sex and sexual behavior among Cambodian youth.

Bill Forbes, Senior Program Manager for Peace and Justice Program of World Vision called on everyone to share the responsibility to ensure that 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”, exclaims Forbes at the end of the project launch.

For more information on the project, please communicate to Bill Forbes at Bill_Forbes@wvi.org or to Channsitha Mark at Channsitha_Mark@wvi.org

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