Friends international - Protection and Support of Cambodian Children on the Streets of Bangkok

Child Trafficking in Cambodia is a tragically common reality. It flourishes everywhere where poverty and corruption prevail. Ever year a growing number of Cambodian children and young people are sold to criminals in Thailand as prostitutes, cheap labor, or beggars. Many of them are treated like slaves and live in constant fear of being caught by the Thai police because this often means brutal arrests and being sent into Bangkok's juvenile detention center.

When caught by authorities the children spend months imprisoned in sub-human conditions, before being shipped back to the Cambodian border like animals. Once back in Cambodia many of the kids are immediately reinserted into the web of human traffickers, and thus their cruel fate continues.

The new project

In late 2005, GEcsn members took action to break the vicious cycle of trafficking. Friends International kicked off a new anti-trafficking project with operations on both the Thai and Cambodian sides of the border. The aim is to work in collaboration with authorities to attack the problem at its root rather than to treat the symptoms. To succeed, we must create an environment where criminals feel that the business of trafficking children is too risky and unprofitable to continue.

The actual project started in February 2007, with GEcsn helping in the conceptual framework and the H. Looser Foundation kindly donating 160'000 US$ to start-up the project. GEcsn believes new sponsors (such as UNICEF) can be attracted now that the project is running.

A four pronged strategy

Social workers need to be present in the areas of Bangkok where trafficked children can be found. This ensures that the young victims are rapidly taken off the streets and brought back to their countries of origin. Different NGOs cooperate to make sure each child successfully reintegrates into his or her community.

 
Concretely this means:

1. Support to the stranded children in Bangkok
2. Assisting the return to the child's countries of origin (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam)
3. Support with a lasting reintegration into communities
4. Prevention work in the areas afflicted by slave traders and migrations

GEcsn actions:

• Help in elaborating the project's concept
• Connecting the project to competent volunteers
• Networking with other like-minded organizations
• Financial help to launch the project

For more information see:

Friends International 2010 Projects Pictures

www.friends-international.org

Daycare Center of Bankok_ Friends International

Activities Slums Bangkok

Transition Centers _ Bangkok_Trafficked Children