COSECAM News

COSECAM, in cooperation with the Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation in Sihanouk Province organized a seminar in early March to discuss the Coordinated Case Management project and to share experiences from other provinces and capital where the project is being implemented.

Coordinated Case Management is a national coordinated system for decentralized services to victims of exploitation and violence and was designed by COSECAM, under the CETHCam project with funding from the European Union.

Today, the CCM project has been operational in Battambang, Sihanouk, Banteay Meanchey, Pailin, and Svay Rieng provinces and Phnom Penh Capital with financial support from INTERVIDA, ANESVAD and the European Union.

The seminar, presided over by Sihanouk Provincial Deputy Governor, H.E. Phai Phan, who is also head of Provincial Child Rights Protection Committee, brought together more than twenty most relevant government officials and representatives from nongovernmental organizations in the province who work in the fields of combating human trafficking and exploitation and victim assistance. Those included officials from health department, department of social affairs, veterans, and youth rehabilitation, department of justice, anti-trafficking police, and military police.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Phai Phan, said COSECAM and the social affairs department are working actively to help the vulnerable people and victims in terms of vocational training and rehabilitation, contributing to poverty reduction of Cambodian people.

“I consider that this is a joint effort between NGO and local authorities to help reduce social crimes like sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and trafficking. We have been working really hard to address these issues,” H.E. Phai Phan said.

“I really appreciate the department and COSECAM for helping the government to reduce the problems in the society. In fact, the situation here is far diffferent from other provinces such as Battambang and Svay Rieng. Here is the tourist destination. We have a lot of foreign tourists here. We have to stay cautious of the problems.”

“I would like to request all officials participating in this one-day seminar to discuss all matters relating child abuse, sexual and labour exploitation and trafficking, referring victims, and developing clear measures for future implementation,” he added.

COSECAM’s Techncial Coordination Unit Coordinator Mr. Chum Phally made an overview of the development of CCM project to the participants. He said that the project staff from other provinces would share their experience with the participants.

“We haven’t had strong experience here, in Sihanouk. That’s why we have to organize a seminar today in a bid to share or exchange our experiences and find out the challenges to the implementation of the existing legal system and mechanisms,” said Mr. Chum Phally.

CCM field case managers in Battambang and in Phnom Penh presented the lessons-learnt from the implementation to the seminar.

The participants were grouped to discuss challenges to intervention, cooperation, victim referral, service accessibility, and understanding the CCM project. The groups also provided solutions to the challenges and recommendations.

“Today, one of the biggest challenges facing us is the fact that frequently, the victims compromise with the perpetrators on compensation rather than bringing the case to court. So, the perpetrators become free and never get punishment for their acts,” a group presented their challenges to the semnar.

“We don’t have transit center for victims. It’s a bit difficult, so we need more budget for,” raised another group.

Director of Provincial Department of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation, Mr. Sok Serey, said he hoped that the seminar would improve victim assistance mechanisms in Sihanouk province.

“From this seminar, we will try to find out stgrengths and weaknesses in order to assist the victims in Sihanouk province,” said Mr. Sok Serey.

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COSECAM Address: Room 594, 5th Floor, Building F, Phnom Penh Center, corner Sihanouk & Sothearos Blvd., P.O. Box: 574, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Phone: (855) 23 224 801 / 993 675 | E-mail: office@cosecam.org | Website: www.cosecam.org