"CSOs sign MoUs to tackle crimes against children", 15 September 2019

The Ministry of Interior and the National Committee for Counter-Trafficking (NCCT) have signed memoranda of understandings (MoUs) with five civil society organisations working on human trafficking, to promote the signees’ common goal of preventing crimes against children…

Bun Eng told … that three agreements had been made between the NCCT and the Chab Dai (Joining Hands) Coalition; the Netherlands-Cambodia human rights organisation Terre Des Hommes; and Caritas Cambodia, an official social development arm of the Catholic Church in Cambodia.

Two others were made between the Ministry of Interior and child protection NGO Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE) and the Child Protection Unit (CPU).

The partnerships are intended to help combat human trafficking, all forms of sexual abuse against women and children, and jointly work to promote social welfare.

… APLE country director Samleang Seila, who signed the organisation’s MoU, said: “We are proud to be signing an MoU with the Ministry of Interior. It reflects the recognition of our contribution and our strong partnership with the ministry.”

CPU executive director James McCabe told … after renewing a three-year agreement that he would continue to support and work with the government and the National Police in investigating the most serious crimes, especially those committed against children.

… A Ministry of Interior report said that in the first six months of this year, the police rescued 263 victims of sexual assault – an increase of nearly 150 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Of those cases, the report said, 70 involved children under the age of 15, with 31 victims aged between 15 and 18 years old.