Survivors of Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Deserve Better Care
With cases of abuse and low standards of care being reported at various centres, the government is concerned and has recognized the need for proper regulations and guidance to help solve this issue.
Working to support victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation, World Vision, together with Cambodian government and other like-minded NGOs, have finally finished the development of the Minimum Standards on Residential Care for Victims of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (MSRCVHTSE). The official launch of the MSRCVHTSE is to disseminate the guideline and to officially enforce its implementation.
With length of 20 pages, the MSRCVHTSE serves as a guideline that sets criteria for centres established in Cambodia to follow. Those criteria include, size of building, location of the center, environment, rehabilitation activities, vocational trainings, to name a few.
Mr. Jason Evans, National Director of World Vision, says that this minimum standard will allow government officials across the country to work closely with rehabilitation centres in creating a safe, secure, and protected environment for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
“Once survivors of abuse and exploitation receive proper care at a center, we can be confident that they will reintegrate with greater success back into their community,” says Mr. Evans, adding that regular inspections should be carried out to ensure that those centers continue to fully comply.
Her Excellency Khiev Borey, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSAVY), says that the establishment of these minimum standards is one of MoSAVY’s responses to some rehabilitation centres that fail to protect or provide adequate care to survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation.
“Having been involved in many discussions and having received recommendations from many NGOs, we have now achieved this minimum standard. We hope this standard will play an important role in rehabilitating the survivors of trafficking and exploitation, in addition to the existing protection laws on human trafficking, and to lift up the quality of care across Cambodia,” says Her Excellency.
According to a 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report, published by the US Department of State, Cambodia still ranks in Tier 2 Watchlist, the same rank as it was in the report 3 years ago. The report cites an increase in the number of Cambodians being trafficked onto Thai fishing trawlers, a drop in the prosecution of traffickers, and persistent complicity in the illicit trade among government officials.