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Provincial Youth Forum on Human Trafficking and Migration
19-20 August 2010

Phnom Penh, 19-20 August 2010, At the Ministry of Social Affairs Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation; World Vision cooperated with other NGOs such ILO, Child Fund, UNICEF, Save the Children, and the National Committee to lead (S.T.S.L.S) and conduct a two-day National Youth Forum on Human Trafficking and Migration with 35 youth from seven different areas, Phnom Penh City, Kandal, Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Svay Reang, and SihanoukVille province.

Human Trafficking, Migration and Labor exploitation are serious violations of basic human rights, and can have lifelong negative impacts on children and young people. Children’s and Youth’s voices are contributing to making a change. World Vision works to encourage young voices and are advocating for more youth participation at local and national arenas.

The Youth Forum was presided by her H.E Chan Harran Vaddey, Under Secretary of State and Head of Child Affairs Working Group of National Committee To Lead The Suppression of Human Trafficking, Smuggling, Labor, and Sexual Exploitation of Women and Children (S.T.S.L.S); She opened the speech, “The youth forum for these two days, such an event of young advocates promoting for education and awareness raising as well as sharing experiences about migration and trafficking is something that government and other NGOs such as World Vision have worked very hard to improve the protection of vulnerable children. All the youth who participated and have been nominated to come have the opportunity to enjoy and have time to learn together and seek out the solutions. We all give value to children to show their voice, and to be able to advocate. This Forum is an event which empowers youth and children to raise their voice and be brave in participation.”
The objectives of the Youth Forum are to:

Show the policy makers and the public the range of vulnerabilities faced by children and youth in the region, and the value of consulting them in decision-making.
Influence measures to (a) better protect vulnerable children and youth from exploitation and trafficking; and (b) institutionalize child and youth participation in local, national and regional anti-trafficking processes.
Empower children and youth from around the region, as individuals and as advocates in the fight against trafficking and exploitation.

As one of the key members of the Youth Forum’s organizers, World Vision’s National Anti-Trafficking Advocacy Coordinator, Mr. Vorn Veth works closely with the people, the government authorities and the non-government organizations and UN agencies to make the forum a reality. He said, “It’s really bear fruit, these two days of youth forum in Phnom Penh. It’s generating discussion relating to child and youth participation, child protection, trafficking prevention and the protection of migrants’ rights. Young people are powerful in helping to make a big change. All youth in the forum are really active in sharing and seeking out the root causes of Human Trafficking and Migration together with the recommendations to raise to the related NGOs and institutions.”

The young people come together to share their opinions and express their thoughts. “We all are really happy to be a part of the forum. We have learned lots from the Forum. We really love to make a positive change for the country because we have voice and we are the members of the country. We all want to eliminate all forms of trafficking and illegally migration. With the Forum, we have time to get to know other youth from different provinces. They recommends that the event should happen again because it helps to involves young people and allows them to learn and exchange ideas with other youth.”

All these 35 youth in this provincial youth forum were selected themselves only 15 youth to join the National Mekong Youth Forum, which will be held in Phnom Penh, 13-15 September 2010.
There will be a provincial youth forum next week in Battambang province in order to select another 15 youth to be a representative to participate in the National Mekong Youth Forum in Phnom Penh on 13-15 September 2010. All these selected 15 youth from each area will be meet up together for the final selection to be only 5 youth to participate in the Regional Youth Forum with other 6 countries in the region on 24-30 October 2010.

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