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Attack on AFESIP’s Trafficking Shelter, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

On 8 December 2004, the nongovernmental organization, Agir pour les Femmes En Situation Précaire (Acting for Women in Distressing Situations (AFESIP) was attacked. This NGO provides shelter and support to trafficking victims in Cambodia. Armed assailants abducted all but one of the 91 women and children under AFESIP’s care. Just one day earlier, Cambodia’s Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department under General Un Sokunthea had rescued 84 of them from a hotel notorious as a brothel for sex trafficking of children.

Eight of the hotel's operators who had been arrested on December 7 were subsequently released and reportedly participated in the attack on AFESIP.

In response to this raid, the head of the Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection was suspended, according to the US State Department Spokesperson Richard Boucher.¹

Also, in response to the situation, the Cambodian government on 14 December 2004 created an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprised of four ministries: Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Social Affairs and Youth Rehabilitation.

On 14 December 2004, AFESIP held a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand. AFESIP has temporarily closed its center in Phnom Penh because of death threats against the staff of AFESIP.

A copy of an official press release from the US Embassy in Cambodia is available on the State Department's Web site.

AFESIP has issued several statements regarding this attack. You can download these documents below. For a complete list of media articles and reports, contact director@humantrafficking.org.

Available Downloads

Official AFESIP Press Statement on these Events

AFESIP Press Release

Statement on the Creation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee in the Cambodian Ministry of Interior to investigate this situation

Answer to Statement released by the Ministry of Interior on 12 December 2004