On 8 August 2009, a four year old girl was kidnapped by a woman in Battambang province and taken to a local market in Thailand where she was trafficked and sold for the purpose of adoption. Although the child was located by the mother and the perpetrator was arrested, the police refused to prosecute the perpetrator unless the mother paid the police money. Following an intervention by LICADHO, the perpetrator was sent to Battambang Court where she was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

“This is one of many tragic cases of child abuse that LICADHO investigates each day in Cambodia,” said Naly Pilorge, Director of Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO). “Child trafficking victims continue to be sold yet the Cambodian authorities have done little to ensure that perpetrators of these unthinkable crimes are swiftly prosecuted.”

During 2009, LICADHO's Child Rights monitoring team received and investigated 278 cases (including 209 cases of rape, 18 cases of physical assault, 21 cases of trafficking, 11 cases of killing and 5 cases of indecent assault) comprising 302 victims (271 females and 31
males).

To mark International Children’s Day this year, LICADHO is promoting the theme of “A community without child trafficking” in Kien Svay district, Kandal province, to promote children’s rights as well as raise awareness of child trafficking and the worst forms of child labor. The program will run from 7.30 am until 11am and will provide children with an opportunity to participate in singing, games, quizzes and awards. Secondary school students, community workers, local and vulnerable children, and the general public are encouraged to attend. Guests at the event include the Kien Svay district deputy-governor, Korky commune chief and LICADHO’s President, Dr. Pung Chhiv Kek.

LICADHO will also organize the distribution of food and material to children, their mother, pregnant women and youths detained in 14 prisons monitored by LICADHO. Currently, there are 814 minors (between the ages of 13 and 18) being held in prisons that LICADHO monitors. An additional 54 children under the age of eight are currently detained with their mothers in prison.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Ms Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO, 012 803 650
▪ Mr. Svay Thy, Deputy Director of Administration and Human Resources,012 922 546

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer