Youth reading advocacy material distributed by LICADHO during World Day Against Child Labour 2011 in Battambang Province.

I gave up school for a job as domestic worker when I was very young. I earned just 100,000 Riels (approximately USD 25) per month, which was already advanced by my mother. In addition to housework, I was also assigned to sell fried crickets at night at various beer gardens and bars. Just three months after I came to work for the family, the male house owner raped me while I was in the house alone. I was subsequently raped on further occasions, and intimidated into not disclosing the information. The owner also gave me contraceptive injections.

- A 13-year-old girl from a remote province fell into bonded labour as a domestic worker for a family.

LICADHO and World Vision Cambodia will mark World Day Against Child Labour on June 10 and June 12 by organizing two community events to raise public awareness and actions on the worst forms of child labour.

The first event, a street march in Battambang's Omal Commune, is expected to gather approximately 600 people, including community members, brick factory workers, students, local authorities and partner organizations. The street march will be followed by fun activities, including songs, a drama performance, quizzes, games, and dancing. The event will start at 7:30AM and concludes at 12:00PM. The event will be organized by LICADHO in cooperation with World Vision Cambodia.

Battambang province is home to a number of brick factories, and many local children are involved in the worst forms of child labour, including brick manufacturing, construction work, agricultural work, domestic work and service industry work. The province, on the Cambodia-Thai borders, is also a magnet for migrants, who come here to work in both countries.

"This close to the border, human trafficking is also a concern," said Pen Chantra, Advocacy Officer of Social Mobilization Against Child Labour Project, World Vision Cambodia. "Children who are trafficked abroad can be doubly victimized. They often endure heinous working conditions and are placed in a situation where they are utterly alone, totally cut off from everything they know: family, friends, culture and language. Frequently they live in slave-like conditions."

This is the third time that LICADHO and World Vision have conducted such a public event under the core theme "I protect children, do you?" in Battambang Province.

The second event, a festival in Siem Reap's Preah Dak commune, is scheduled for 2 p.m. on June 12. The event will include activities such as songs, a drama performance on child labour by child protection group members, quizzes, games for local children and dancing. The event will conclude with an evening screening of a documentary film and video spots on child labour. Participants will also be tested their understandings of those documentaries.

Preah Dak Commune is also believed to be a source for child labourers who work in and around Siem Reap province in various capacities, including souvenir selling, agricultural work, brick manufacturing and construction work.

"Child labour poses serious threats to the physical and physiological development of children," said Im Norin, LICADHO's Child Rights Advocacy Campaign Coordinator. "Many children work in hazardous conditions and are vulnerable to mental and physical mistreatment or even sexual abuse. This deprives them of the opportunity to grow and develop and also jeopardizes the future of children, families, communities and society as a whole."

Both events are part of joint project between LICADHO, World Vision Cambodia and Operation a Day's Work Finland to reduce the worst forms of child labour set forth in ILO Convention 182.

Members of the public, local media and international media are invited to attend the march and the event and join us in combating the worst forms of child labour.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Mr. Im Norin, Children's Rights Advocacy Campaign Coordinator, LICADHO 012 381 241
▪ Mr. Pen Chantra, Advocacy Officer, World Vision Cambodia 017 816 921

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