NEWS

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Girls Speak Out Sunday Workshop

Girls Speak Out Sunday Workshop

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COSECAM Organized Girls Speak Out Workshop

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COSECAM Joined the Rural Trade Fair in Prey Veng Provincial Town

COSECAM conducted Organizational Management Training Program

COSECAM organized "Girls Speak Out" workshop

COSECAM joined the Rural Trade Fair in Kampong Cham Provincial Town

COSECAM conducted a "Girls Speak Out" wrokshop on 28th November 2007

More Awareness about Trafficking Is Needed: Report

There is a need to raise more awareness of human trafficking and exploitation issues amongst the young, particularly those who may be at risk, a 2009 Girls Speak Out report says.

The report looks at the impact, importance and future development of the Peer Educator role. Released in January, it is a review of findings from discussions with 26 girls who were victims of trafficking and exploitation, and their Caretakers.

Some of the girls interviewed for this report are currently under the protection of COSECAM's coalition members while others have already been reintegrated back into their communities. All the girls who took part in this study play an active role in contributing towards combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Advocacy and Research Volunteer, Rebecca Swarbrick from theUnited Kingdom said, “The girls in the Girls Speak Out group are educated on social issues such as safe migration and domestic violence. The girls play a really important role in protecting other children by sharing their knowledge at school, in shelters, and in the community, who then in turn educate their friends.”

Ms. Rebecca Swarbrick said the report took three months to research and complete, adding that it also aimed to get current and potential donors to understand the impact of the Peer Educator role and why sponsoring such an initiative is so important.

Ms. Swarbrick said that the research sought to review and improve COSECAM’s organization of and support given to the girls in their Peer Educator role. She also said that based on feedback given by the girls and their Caretakers, COSECAM can now develop a program based on the girls learning needs for 2010 and beyond.

The girls all value the creation of the Girls Speak Out project and participation in the workshops. They said that it has helped to familiarize them with the serious social problems faced in Cambodia.

As a result of being more knowledgeable and performing the Peer Educator role, the girls are able to inform their friends and other children on human trafficking and sexual exploitation related issues.

“I now have more knowledge than before. When people and friends ask me questions related to human trafficking and exploitation, I can now answer them,” a girl said in the report.

The girls actively want to educate their peers on trafficking, abuse and exploitation issues so that they can avoid falling victim.

“In the shelter I want to share my knowledge on human trafficking. I don’t know how many people in the shelter have suffered from this, but I just want to share my knowledge with other people.”

The Peer Educator activity is also really important to the girls because they want to be part of something that is helping to deal with the social issues in Cambodia. It is important that in a country with so many social problems, people who want to help educate others are given the opportunity to do so.

“I want to be part of helping with the social issues in this country – including trafficking,” said a girl.

Another girl said, “Trafficking happens in my community and I want to help.”

As victims of trafficking and exploitation, the GSO girls are well placed to act as Peer Educators to ensure that other children and youth are aware of potential dangers, and what behaviour is morally right and wrong.

By building capacity amongst the GSO girls, both the girls and the community are being educated. They are providing knowledge to their peers to make sure that they are aware of social issues and do not fall victim to child trafficking or exploitation.

The report also highlighted how the girls have impacted on their local communities for example by encouraging children to go back to school, how to avoid trafficking risks, preventing bullying and discrimination, and discouraging drug usage.

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