From Silence to Safety: Strengthening Community Child Protection Through Reporting and Referral Mechanisms

“I didn’t know who to tell,” said Sochenda, a 12-year-old girl, lowering her voice while speaking to the commune child protection focal person. For several weeks, she had felt afraid of a stranger who repeatedly watched and followed her while she was working in the cassava field near her village. Unsure of what to do and worried about her safety, Sochenda remained silent until she learned whom she could trust and where she could report her concerns.

“Sometimes we don’t know whether a situation is a case or who we should report it to,” her parents explained. “Because of this, information is often withheld instead of being reported early. Now I know that I am not alone. I know whom I can talk to and where to report when something is wrong.”

Children in rural communes often face risks such as neglect, violence, exploitation, and unsafe migration. Previously, cases went unreported due to limited knowledge of child protection procedures and weak coordination among community members, local authorities, and service providers.

Before the project intervention, many villagers did not understand what constituted a child protection concern or where to report it. Commune councils and village leaders lacked clear, standardized referral pathways, resulting in delayed or incomplete responses to cases involving children.

Lerm, Vice Chief of the Police Post, further explained that many parents and caregivers were afraid to report child protection concerns and did not know the contact numbers of the commune child protection focal persons. He noted that fear, lack of information, and uncertainty about reporting procedures discouraged families from coming forward, even when children were at risk.

Bunheng, a commune council member, explained that before the reporting and referral mechanism was introduced, community members lacked an understanding of child protection reporting pathways and appropriate referral processes.

Within three years, the project was implemented through strong coordination and close cooperation with child protection focal persons at all levels, alongside active engagement from Royal Government authorities. Commune councils, village leaders, police posts, teachers, health workers, and social workers worked together with communities and children to identify child protection concerns early. Regular coordination meetings, joint case discussions, and on-the-job support strengthened trust and collaboration among stakeholders. Government authorities at the commune and district levels actively participated in awareness activities, case identification, and referral follow-up, ensuring alignment with national child protection systems.

As a result, the project achieved clear system-level improvements. CCWC members became more confident and capable in handling child protection cases, while cases of abuse were identified earlier, properly documented, and referred through official channels. Stronger coordination among duty bearers reduced response times, and children felt safer and more confident speaking out. At the same time, commune authorities increasingly recognized child participation as a strength, reinforcing more child-centered protection practices.

After the project was implemented, child protection systems at the communal level became stronger and more effective. Duty bearers demonstrated improved capacity to identify, report, and refer child protection cases through clear and trusted pathways. Coordination among commune authorities, police, and service providers improved, resulting in faster and more appropriate responses. Children and caregivers felt safer and more confident reporting concerns, while commune leaders increasingly valued child participation as an essential part of protecting children’s rights.

“Before, we did not know what to do. Now we know how to respond and who to contact,” said a community member.

Bopha, a CCWC member in Chhaeb Mouy, stated that “the reporting and referral mechanism has helped the community clearly understand how to identify child protection cases and where to report them, resulting in faster and more coordinated responses to protect children.”

“Before, I was scared and didn’t know who to tell,” said Sochenda, a 12-year-old registered child.

Since the reporting and referral mechanism was introduced in her community, Sochenda feels safer and more confident speaking out. She knows the commune focal persons and understands that adults will listen and take action to protect her. This change has given her confidence, a sense of safety, and the courage to stand up for herself and other children in her community.