Forum on Cambodia
Trafficking in Human Lives
Cambodia's Current Social and Economic Problems

Sponsored by:

The Asia Foundation

Time:

November 29, 2000, 3:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m

Place:

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan Map

In the three years since opening her crisis shelter, Oung Chanthol has helped more than a thousand women victims of sexual violence. Oung acquired the equivalent of a law degree during 13 years spent in a refugee camp.

As a recent article in Time Magazine states, Cambodia's "brothels are filled with an estimated 20,000 child prostitutes." The AIDS epidemic fuels an ever-growing demand for young women in the sex industry.

Although the Cambodian government has begun cracking down against blatant pedophelia; permissive public attitudes, corrupt government officials and rampant poverty conspire to entrap tens of thousands of Cambodian women and children in a web of sexual slavery.

Ok Serei Sopheak will talk about the economic and social causes of the trafficking.
Ok Serei is a former advisor to the Cambodian government

Jon Summers, resident representative of The Asia Foundation will make comments on the efforts of foreign donor agencies to ameliorate Cambodia's problems.

Speakers:
Jon Summers, The Asia Foundation, Cambodia representative
Ok Serei Sopheak, Cambodian Center for Conflict Resolution, Co-chairman and coordinator
Oung Chanthol, Cambodian Women's Crisis Center, Founder and executive director

materials:
 Translation of article from Mainichi Shimbun on Dec. 13, 2000