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CAMBODIA
#1 Rescuing Trafficked
Women The three NGOs CWCC, AFESIP and CCPCR began a program in 1997 to rescue victims of forced prostitution. Cases are received through brothels, through direct complaints to an agency, and by following up reports in newspapers. After receiving a case, the NGOs gather information and then contact the police to rescue the victims. A major challenge has been getting an effective response from the police. When they began, the NGOs always reported cases to the local police. However, they found that sometimes the local police were friends of or even involved with the brothel owners, traffickers or pimps. Cases took at least a week to be actioned, and sometimes the offenders were alerted and escaped. Now, if there is any possibility that local police might be involved, they report the case to the Municipal Chief of Police, who has been very supportive. Through this approach they receive rapid and effective cooperation from the authorities. This approach is illustrated by the following case. A newly married farmer couple from an outlying province and needed money to treat a seriously ill father. A pimp offered to help them if they needed work in the city, but when they arrived they were sold to a brothel for $300. The husband escaped and complained to the local police. He overheard the police call the brothel owner on short-wave radio, saying that they would take him back to the brothel. The brothel owner said that no one would dare arrest him, because of his connections with politicians and police. The man escaped from the police station, and went to the police in another district, who took him to CWCC. CWCC decided not to contact the local police, but went to the Department of the Phnom Penh Municipality of Social Affairs and the chief of the Municipality Police. He was very helpful, and sent in a mixed team to rescue the victims. By midday of that day, six young women had been rescued, and the brothel owner had been arrested.
#2 Advocating for
Victims of Domestic Violence In complex cases of domestic violence, NGOs can become involved in providing legal and social support for victims and their dependents, and advocating for broader legal changes. This is well illustrated by the case of Mrs Yim Sang who was assisted by CWCC. Mrs Sang, a 37 years old mother with 4 children, had been a victim of domestic violence for many years. While the village and the local authorities knew and were sympathetic, they dared not intervene because it was regarded as a private family matter. Eventually Mrs Sang killed her abusive husband while he was trying to shoot her to death in their home. CWCC read about the case in a newspaper and immediately went to the village and arranged medical treatment and accommodation for the children. They also helped Mrs Sang obtain a lawyer, facilitated weekend visits by the children, and advocated for her acquittal on the grounds of self-defence. This included obtaining signatures on a petition from human rights NGOs, local authorities and neighbours, issuing a press release, and undertaking direct advocacy to sensitise the judge to the circumstances. The judge sympathised with Mrs Sang and wanted to release her, but was unable to do so as the Cambodian Criminal Code does not acknowledge self-defence as a defence for murder. However, he only sentenced Mrs Sang to four years imprisonment, which is half the minimum sentence provided for by the law. Mrs Sang was very happy with such a short sentence, but CWCC are continuing to advocate for her release and for self-defence to be recognized in the Cambodian Criminal Code.
#3 Providing Legal
Assistance to Victims Victims of sexual trafficking usually know the trafficker, but do not prosecute because they do not understand the legal system, do not have the resources to take the case to court, or are afraid of corruption. Legal assistance is an important way of helping them. In one case, a woman was severely beaten by a brothel owner and her ribs were broken. She wanted the brothel owner to be prosecuted and to pay her medical expenses. However, she had no knowledge of court proceedings, was poor, and was not hopeful of getting a fast and fair trial. With the assistance of a lawyer provided by CWCC, the brothel owner was arrested. While still in jail awaiting trial he also paid for the woman's medical expenses, which is very unusual. Usually perpetrators in jail refuse to pay unless they are released.
#4 Advocating for
Enforcement of Legal Verdicts NGOs such as CDP and CWCC believe that legal assistance does not finish when the court issues a positive decision, but only when that verdict is fully enforced. This principle is clearly demonstrated in the case of Mrs Sokha (not her real name). Mrs Sokha and her three children, were beaten regularly by her husband over ten years. When the abusive husband began an illegal relationship with another woman, they were forced out of the home without any possessions. Mrs Sokha filed for divorce, and the court awarded her custody of the children, the joint house, and $100 per month in child support. The husband did not appeal to the court, but refused to comply with the verdict. When the court police attempted to enforce it he hired a team of soldiers to fight them. The court police withdrew, and were reluctant to press the issue further - several years earlier, a group of law enforcement officers had been killed by an abusive husband in similar circumstances. CWCC successfully advocated to have the verdict enforced. They arranged for the child support to be paid through the husband's employer, and, together with Mrs Sokha herself, persuaded the judge to arrest the husband for obstructing enforcement of the court's verdict. He was jailed for four days until he gave Mrs Sokha the house and the children, and promised to be responsible for any incidents that might happen to her in the future. This was the first case ever in which the Cambodian courts arrested a husband who resisted enforcement of a verdict.
#5 Advocating for
Arrest of a Rapist Rape is a serious problem in Cambodia, which only rarely leads to arrest of the rapist. Some women are forced to marry the perpetrator, while some others receive a token compensation. However, through advocacy and cooperation with the press, CWCC was able to assist the family of one young victim to achieve justice through the law. The young girl was the victim of an attempted kidnapping and rape by the son of a high ranking local police officer. Her friend, who was on her motor cycle at the time of the attack, was killed. The perpetrator was a member of a gang, and according to police reports had raped and killed many women. But no one dared to arrest him. Even the young girl, who initially reported the incident to the police, refused to be a witness after the perpetrator threatened to kill her and her family. The mother was very angry at the failure of the police to arrest the perpetrator, and had no money for her daughter's medical expenses. She approached CWCC, who raised funds to contribute to the medical costs. Tragically, after a month in hospital the young girl died. CWCC also persuaded a pro-government newspaper to print an article demanding the arrest of the perpetrator. After reading the article, the chief of the district police called the newspaper to protest. The paper responded that it was a true story, and needed urgent action. The police chief then held a large meeting and instructed that the perpetrator be arrested. The rapist was eventually jailed, and the family received approximately $2000 in compensation.
#6 Providing
Rehabilitation Services for Victims and their Families Most victims of sexual trafficking or domestic violence are illiterate, lack skills, have low self-esteem or are unemployed. Without appropriate rehabilitation, these victims may go back to or accept the violent situation they have been in. To achieve independence they need to develop skills so they can earn an income. Several NGOs have recognized this and are providing rehabilitation services to help victims develop self-reliance. These include training in life skills, vocational training in sewing, weaving, hair dressing, and small business, setting up small income generation projects and assisting with access to job opportunities. As a result, much fewer women have had to return to their previous violent situation. For example, CWCC recently assisted a 16-year-old girl who had been tricked into prostitution. She managed to escape, but her parents blamed her for having been a prostitute, and refused to take her back. CWCC provided accommodation at their refuge, and helped her to train as a cook and learn English. Eventually she got a job in a foreign restaurant, and became independent. They also tried to work with the family so they would be more sensitive to their daughter, who wanted to be reunited with them. After a long time the mother started to sympathize with her daughter, and she is now helping the father to understand the situation.
#7 Providing Unlisted /
Covert Refuges for Victims CWCC have recognized the importance of secrecy about the location of victims of violence against women, and in 1997 established an unlisted refuge which was separate from their main office. This is a safe place for victims, where neither abusive husbands nor sex traffickers can find them. While several husbands and brothel gangs have come to the office with guns and grenades in an attempt to harm the victims or take them back, the women have remained safe in the unlisted refuge. By contrast, victims who have been staying in identified shelters run by other organisations have been abducted from the shelter by abusive husbands or armed gangs from brothels. As a result, some other NGOs are also beginning to make their refuges unlisted.
#8 Using Media
Campaigns on Sexual Trafficking One of the most pervasive forms of violence against women and girls in Cambodia is sexual trafficking. However, in the areas from which the victims come, most of the villagers say they have never heard of women being abducted, lured, drugged, sold or deceived into prostitution. Police officials and local authorities often do not understand the problem, or know there is a law against sexual trafficking. To raise the level of awareness in these communities, CWCC created a five-minute video and radio program. These covered the abysmal conditions of brothels; the tricks used by traffickers to abduct; lure and deceive women into the sex trade; services which are available to victims of trafficking; or people who know victims; and the recently adopted Law on the Suppression of the Kidnapping and Trafficking/Sale of Human Persons and Exploitation of Human Persons. The video program was shown nationwide three to four days a week during the most popular viewing hours over a four-month period. The radio program was broadcast nationwide three times a day over six weeks. Random interviews with a cross-section of citizens demonstrated the success of this strategy in raising awareness and understanding of sexual trafficking. Over 9 in 10 respondents had seen the video, and the overwhelming majority could cite specific information from the program. Three quarters said they had learned about the different ways women and children could end up in a brothel, and two thirds said that women were cheated by false offers of work. Importantly, over three quarters had discussed the video with other people, and over 4 in 5 said the video had caused them to be more careful about strangers who offered jobs to villagers, and to avoid visiting brothels. The media campaign also increased use of CWCC services. Fifty people contacted CWCC for direct services, and a further 40 phoned to inform the agency of brothel locations, requested assistance for a missing relative, asked for counselling or requested more information. Taxi drivers have also been bringing victims who have escaped from brothels to the CWCC shelter. Of most impact, the vice mayor of Phnom Penh city was prompted by the video to convene a meeting of 50 district chiefs, police commissioners and NGO representatives. He ordered the police to act strongly against sexual trafficking. Within three months almost 400 women and children were rescued from brothels and referred to rehabilitation centres, and at least 35 brothel owners were jailed.
#9 Providing
Counselling for Victims and Perpetrators Since 1998 CWCC has been facilitating a support group for victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual trafficking. Once a week, one or two former clients of the service come as guests to a group counselling session and share their problems, feelings, and how they overcame these problems. This is very successful in giving current clients hope that they can overcome their traumas, and become confident and self-reliant. Originally, CWCC had a policy of only dealing with the women in cases of domestic violence. But one day, when exploring options with an abused wife, she asked why they were not talking to her abusive husband - he was the only one who could stop the violence. This caused the organization to reconsider their policy. They realized that women often depend on their husbands, and do not want to divorce or punish him, but just to make the violence stop. CWCC decided to take a new approach in domestic violence cases, counselling all the parties involved. They have found that this is very effective in stopping the violence after the abusive husband realizes that what he is doing is wrong. While some NGOs believe that it is a waste of time counselling abusive husbands who may return to their violent behaviour in the future, CWCC believe counselling all parties leads to better cooperation and implementation of decisions. This new approach is illustrated by the following case. A woman came to the CWCC shelter after escaping from her husband who drank heavily, raped her, beat her and her children, and never helped with the housework. She wanted help to change her husband, so CWCC gave him counselling to identify the problem and possible solutions. After individual and couple counselling, the couple signed a contract in which they agreed to reunite, and the husband promised to stop beating his wife and to help with the housework. The local authorities witnessed the contract, and agreed to monitor it and take appropriate measures if the husband broke it. In follow-up visits, the neighbours advised that the husband has totally changed, and the couple is now living happily together.
#10 Lobbying for Legal
Protection Against Sexual Harassment The potential for NGOs to achieve change through lobbying was demonstrated in 1995 by the Working Group on Women's Rights (WGWR), a coalition of 16 NGOs working for women's rights. In that year, the National Assembly was preparing to debate a new Labor Law. Unusually, the draft legislation was circulated for comment, and WGWR was able to compare it with the labor codes of several democratic countries and United Nations Conventions, and develop a list of recommended changes. In particular, WGWR were concerned that the law did not cover sexual harassment. They decided that they needed to sensitise assembly members to the issue of sexual harassment before the debate began in the National Assembly itself, and encourage them to amend the draft law to define sexual harassment as an illegal act. The group used a range of strategies, including working with AAFLI to organise a workshop, arranging for National Assembly members (regardless of political party) to visit workplaces and talk to female workers who had been harassed, lobbying assembly members individually, and issuing press releases describing cases of harassment. This concerted lobbying over the six months leading up to the debate was successful. Once the debate in the National Assembly began, the key members whom WGWR had targeted lobbied for changes to the bill, and the recommendation that sexual harassment be included in the Labor Law was accepted. While this success can be mostly attributed to the work of WGWR, it was only possible because the assembly had taken the unusual step of circulating the draft legislation.
#11 Raising Political
Awareness of Women's Issues During an Election During the 1998 election campaign, the Working Group on Women's Rights (WGWR) wanted to ensure that women's issues were addressed by political parties, so that female voters could make informed choices about which leaders cared for their interests. To achieve this, they organised a public forum. In the lead up to the forum, WGWR arranged for experts to train their members so that they could facilitate the forum more effectively. They invited all political parties to come and share their platforms on women's issues, and gave each party 10 minutes to speak. The forum was aired nationally before the election, and recorded so that the party which formed the new government could be reminded to fulfil their promises. The forum was very successful in raising political awareness of women's issues, and gaining promises to address the issues. Of the 39 parties, 29 gave presentations. The main political parties had conducted surveys on women's issues and prepared written strategies addressing issues such as trafficking in women and children, domestic violence, poverty, unequal education, reproductive rights and equal participation. The three main parties, which eventually won seats in the National Assembly, all presented strong and clear commitments to promoting and protecting women's rights.
#12 Using Drama to
Address Violence Against Women PADV and ICMC have been using comedy and drama to raise awareness of violence against women, and urge people to take action. In 1997, PADV organised for some famous comedians to present a comic drama about a jealous husband who beat his wife. Eventually a social worker and neighbours intervened, and the husband recognised that his violence was illegal and had to be stopped. Thousands of people attended each performance and found it a strong educational program about domestic violence. The following year, PADV produced a video about a school child from a violent family. He was sad, and wished for a non-violent family like his neighbours so that he could study properly at school. This was broadcast nationally during a peak television viewing period. Over the following days people were observed in markets and other public places discussing the video, and how they did not want their children to live in those kinds of conditions. ICMC have also used drama to sensitise the public to sexual trafficking and encourage intervention. The drama was presented in a range of cities across the country by a group of women who had been victims of trafficking, and was based on their own stories. It described how women are tricked into prostitution, and depicted their working conditions. In Battambang province, the play led to police being instructed to rescue victims working in brothels across the province. More than 100 women and children were rescued and referred to ICMC for assistance. Dated: 2Nov2001 |
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