World Vision Cambodia hosts a two-day workshop on combating child sex tourism between 28 February and 01 March 2005. Participants from various sectors involved in the issues will participate in this first event, organized by World Vision.

The workshop which aims at bringing together all key sectors in tourism to better response and coordination to protect children in Cambodia, will be presided over by her Royal Highness Princess Norodom Rattana Devi, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Tourism.

Recognizing the need for immediate action to stop child sexual exploitation, the workshop, which is supported by the US State Department, focuses on foreign offenders.

“The sexual exploitation of children will not be tolerated. We are working together to ensure that people who harm children are monitored, arrested and prosecuted,” said Talmage Payne, World Vision’s Country Director.

“As the number of tourists in Cambodia continues to rise, various key actors from different sectors collaborate to institute mechanism to protect Cambodian children,” continued Payne.

More than 100 participants from government ministries, embassies, private sectors and Non Governmental Organizations, working to address the sexual exploitation of children, attend the workshop. The workshop provides opportunity for individuals to actively ensure the well being of Cambodian children.

Since 1995, World Vision has engaged in protecting Cambodian children through different project activities. In 2004, World Vision received technical and financial support from the US State Department to launch a billboard campaign on child sex tourism prevention. The billboards with deterrence messaging locate in prime tourist locations of Phnom Penh city and Siem Reap province. In another effort, the campaign will spread to SihanoukVille and various tools will be used to send the message wider.

“World Vision values the partnership with and support from Royal Government of Cambodia, the US State Department, British Embassy, Australian Embassy, other Non Governmental Organisations and private sectors. The cooperation has enabled us to bring foreign child offenders to justice in Cambodia,” said Payne.

Local and international media are invited to attend the official opening ceremony in the morning session.
Date: Monday 28 February
Time: 8:00 am
Location: World Vision Cambodia – National Office #20 Street 71 (near the corner Monivong and Mao Tse Toung Blvds)

For more information, please contact:
Sok Naly, Communications Coordinator, HP: +855 12 727304

Talmage Payne, World Vision’s Country Director, is available for an interview at 10:00am on 28 February 2005.