IJM Canada Focus: Cambodia
In 2009 alone, IJM investigations resulted in 33 arrests of suspected perpetrators of commercial sexual exploitation of children, 19 convictions and prison sentences, and 54 trafficked women and children rescued and removed from places where they were abused and exploited for sex. Eight establishments where children were bought and sold for sex were closed in 2009 as a result of IJM’s efforts.
In 2009, (with financial support from Crossroads Christian Communications), IJM Canada joined with IJM to open a second Cambodian office in Siem Reap. While best known for its proximity to the temples of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap has also become known in recent years as a destination for sex tourism. IJM opened a field office in Siem Reap to create an even greater level of protection and restoration for children in Cambodia.
Kunthy*'s Story
Kunthy (*a pseudonym) was trafficked into prostitution in Cambodia at age 13. She was held captive in a dilapidated structure the locals called the “Anarchy Building,” where she was raped nightly and routinely beaten, drugged and threatened by the brothel keeper and pimp.
Kunthy was discovered through an IJM undercover investigation. After documenting proof of her imprisonment, IJM staff worked with local authorities to ensure her rescue, and pursued the prosecution of the brothel owner and pimp, who were sentenced to 15 and 10 years in prison respectively.
Today, Kunthy lives in an aftercare home, where she is healing from her abuse in a secure and loving environment. Her dream is to own an Internet café and design websites for businesses. Right now, she works at a part-time job with a local NGO, attends a computer training school and is thriving in the freedom and security of her transitional home.
+ Read more of Kunthy's story
Cambodia Statistics
Capital: Phnom Penh
Area: 181,035 sq. km.
Population: 14,494,293
Language: Khmer
GDP per capita :
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, divided by the average population for the same year. GDP estimates are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations, which attempt to show the purchasing power of various currencies when compared with the US$.
$1,900 (2009 est.)
HDI :
The Human Development Index (HDI) ranks countries by their achievements in longevity, knowledge and standard of living. Cambodia ranks 137th out of 182 countries with data. For more information on the HDI, visit www.undp.org.
0.593
Life Expectancy :
Life expectancy at birth measures the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future.
62
Established: 2000 Casework Emphasis: Sexual Violence, Forced Prostitution
Photo Gallery
IJM Canada executive director Jamie McIntosh stands on a street in Cambodia, where even now girls are openly offered for sale to willing customers, many of them Western tourists.
In other's words . . .
Mark Buchanan
"A typical reaction of most churches and most Christians to the overwhelming injustices in the world is to avoid the matter altogether. It's too big, too complex, too costly, too dangerous. But in avoiding the matter we've become, in effect, the priest or the Levite in Jesus' parable: we join the company of those who walk past the beaten man. Supporting IJM allows any church, Christian or Good Samaritan to join the company of those who do not walk past."