This project will provide aftercare support and reintegration services for up to 100 girls aged 1-18 who have been victims of sexual exploitation and forced labor in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The young girls will receive access to safe short-term shelter, healthcare, education, legal support and family reunion or community-based care support.
In Cambodia, the sexual exploitation of women and children is a thriving business, especially in the capital Phnom Penh. As many as one third of sex workers in Cambodia are children under 18 years of age. We have seen an increase in the numbers of sex trafficking victims being referred to our project over the last 10 years. The path from rescue to restoration is fraught with inconsistent systems and challenges for a victim to access services and necessary protections.
Our Lighthouse project In Phnom Penh will provide shelter to rescued victims along with assistance with basic necessities, medical assessments and trauma therapy. Additionally a basic education and job readiness program will be provided to enable girls to transition into the workforce. Girls will also receive support with legal proceedings; and community assessments and engagements will be carried out to ensure the children are safely reintegrated in family or alternative long-term care.
This project will have a life-long impact in the lives of 100 victims of sex trafficking by empowering them to rebuild their lives, come out of the cycle of poverty and embark on an exploitation-free journey. Our track record shows that girls who received services over 5 years ago are safe and living lives free of exploitation, with a 75+% success rate for reintegration with victims of sex and labour trafficking.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
