IJM Expands In Cambodia With New Siem Reap Office

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA - On February 4, 2010, IJM staff and leadership joined with members of the Cambodian government, Cambodian National Police, and representatives from The Asia Foundation (TAF) and USAID to celebrate the opening of IJM's newest office in Siem Reap, Cambodia. With the opening of this new satellite field office, IJM Cambodia anticipates advancing the work of justice in bold and new ways.

Siem Reap, a city in northern Cambodia, has seen vast growth in recent years. Road development and improved transportation routes have made the city more accessible, while a new airport receiving direct international flights brings in tourists daily. Because of its growing accessibility and tourism, Siem Reap has also experienced increasing numbers of foreign paedophiles travelling to the city to abuse minors; the growing trafficking problem has also served to add to the vulnerability of those who live in the impoverished areas outside the city.

With Cambodia operations based out of capitol city Phnom Penh since 2004, IJM's legal, investigations and aftercare teams in the country saw the opportunity to expand into Siem Reap as a vital step in their work to bring rescue to victims of sex trafficking and secure the prosecution of perpetrators of the crime.

"Of all our target provinces in Cambodia, the Siem Reap police, courts, and government officials are working together as strongly as anywhere [we're working] right now...The field is ripe to go there," says IJM Cambodia Field Office Director Patrick Stayton.

While IJM has taken several cases in the city in the past, with a ground presence in Siem Reap, the team will have a greater capacity to respond to referrals of abuse and sexual exploitation, and will able to react to leads more rapidly. Whereas in the past it may have taken hours to reach victims in and around Siem Reap, according to Deputy Director Shawn Kohl, "we now have a presence immediately."

Sponsored by a grant from USAID through The Asia Foundation, IJM's Siem Reap office will continue to strengthen partnerships between IJM and the Cambodian National Police in combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation. IJM police trainers look forward to future law enforcement trainings in Siem Reap, helping to enable quicker and more confident responses to rescue victims, and better evidence collection and crime scene analysis to assist in the efficient prosecution of cases. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice President of the Siem Reap Court expressed his desire to see IJM work alongside the police in collecting better evidence to assist the court. The Siem Reap Chief Prosecutor expressed his anticipation of greater collaboration with IJM in cases before and after operations, which he hopes will lead to increasing numbers of perpetrator arrests and convictions.

IJM Cambodia Director of Aftercare Lisa Slavovsky looks forward to greater capacity to assist rescued trafficking victims in Siem Reap. She also hopes for greater collaboration with IJM's aftercare partners in the region. By establishing a physical presence, Slavovsky hopes to see more resources brought to the area, increasing the effectiveness of victim aftercare and "growing together alongside these partners."