Protecting 300 girls from exploitation in Cambodia

AusCam's  Change Agents have been amazing advocates - recently they spent a day working with  the Cambodia National Council for Children (CNCC), a council made up of representatives from a wide range of National Ministries. During the day they gave feedback on progress on the 5 year national action plan to reduce Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE).

AusCam shared the way everyday heroes and a sisterhood of change agents can become the movement that is able to prevent the tragedy and damage of online Child Sexual Exploitation in Cambodia. With estimates that there are 160,000 children impacted in Cambodia and research indicating this rate is growing, we know that the only realistic response is one that can be scaled and sustained, and that can have a credible behaviour change impact. 

Our Change Agents shared their suggestion to reduce OCSE in Cambodia:

1. Conduct workshops on OCSE to schools in Cambodia, including teachers, and students to prevent OCSE for children who are vulnerable.
2. Include Online Child Sexual Exploitation as a lesson in the textbook for students.
3. Communes and villages to have an OCSE protection workshop for parents, followed by discussion.
4. Social media companies to strengthen their systems for reporting and blocking sexual material on social platforms.
5. Ask for measures to punish the perpetrators
6. Print outthe Hotline poster to display in schools, communes, and villages; so children can ask for help if they face OCSE problems.
7. Advertise on television and radio
8. Influencers or content creators to raise awareness about OCSE and give  tips for safety online
9. Mobilise Change Agents as agents to spread awareness
10. Post a big banner about OCSE awareness at the traffic lights. 

This is the second time this year that our Change Agents have met with the CNCC, and in addition they have visited schools, universities, other NGOs - they have presented, coached, been part of debates and spoken with leaders,  and they have sat with new campaign groups so as to multiply their impact - the movement is gaining momentum, as they gain confidence and lean into their identity as active heroes who are protecting Cambodian children. 

Links:

• Our website