“Abuse a child in this country, go to jail in yours.” This is the clear warning of a new billboard campaign launched in a partnership between World Vision and the US Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We’re serious about child protection. We want foreigners to know, without doubt, that if they abuse children in Cambodia they will be monitored, they will be arrested, and they will go to jail,” said World Vision’s Country Director, Talmage Payne.

The new billboards and street signs began appearing in prime tourist locations around Phnom Penh last month, and the message is clear – child predators will be caught.

Police have been trained, and laws have been implemented. In the past three years there have been 784 investigations and 669 prosecutions of both local and foreign offenders. In the past five months alone, there have been 171 arrests.

Crimes against children are now punishable with lengthy prison sentences in the sex-abuser’s home country. For instance, any US citizen who engages in sexual activity in Cambodia with a child under the age of 18 is subject to prosecution and 30 years in a US prison.

The billboards include a 24-hour hotline number, coordinated by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit within the Ministry of Interior, which is staffed by Khmer, English and Vietnamese operators. In other efforts, the Ministry of Tourism has been working with guesthouse operators and hotel staff to encourage the reporting of suspicious activities.

“Predators should be warned. It is not just the authorities on the lookout, but thanks to the hotline number, we can all help to stop the abuse of children,” said Payne.

“Whether you’re a Cambodian, expatriate or tourist, if you see a situation where children are at risk, then call the hotline and report it,” said Payne. “Together we can stop child sexual exploitation in Cambodia.”

If you observe a situation where you believe children are at risk, call the 24-hour hotline: 023 720 555.

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