Background: The Issue

In Cambodia, children are trafficked for sexual exploitation or forced to solicit anything from flowers to postcards. Children trafficked into organized begging rings often end up being sexual exploited. In fact, NGOs report that nearly one third of trafficking victims in prostitution are children.

Due to Cambodia’s tragic history of genocide, half of its population is now under the age of twenty. Cambodia faces a problem of trying to provide decent work to its young population. The issue further increases cross border migration and perpetuates the vulnerability to human trafficking.

Cambodia is a destination for child sex tourism. The sale of virgins is devastatingly problematic within Cambodia. NGO’s estimate foreign (mostly Asian) men pay $800 to $4,000 to have sex with a virgin. Cambodia thrives on tourist dollars, considering it is a major economic contributor to development. However, many of these tourists visit for the purpose of paying a premium to have sex with children.

Not For Sale in Cambodia

Creating Jobs for Survivors: Not For Sale has partnered with a social enterprise garment factory that provides jobs to trafficking survivors, poor and vulnerable women. The factory is an inspiring and holistic work environment; offering a competitive salary, free child care, health care, living stipend, attendance bonus, Khmer and English classes, overtime pay, and more.

Not For Sale is providing the link between existing shelters and vocational programs to job opportunities. We have partnered with local organization, Nyemo, to provide training salaries and social services at the garment factory for women who have graduated from a vocational training program. We are creating new futures for women through enterprise.