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News & Updates

Update on December 2004 Shelter Raid in 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. A full report of the incident was documented in December 2004 on the HumanTrafficking.org Web site.

On 1 February 2005, the Inter-Ministerial Committee in Cambodia released a "Decision Statement" regarding the break in to the Srey Khan Shelter.

On 23 February 2005, AFESIP released "AFESIP Response to the Decision of the Inter Ministerial Committee" (PDF Attached) in order to lodge their disagreement and disappointment with the findings of the Committee. AFESIP "maintains that the force and turbulence arising on 8 December 2004 emanated from those that were outside the gate" of the shelter. "The gate was forced in from the outside resulting in damage to the shelter, physical assault to a member of staff, the forced removal of women and girls in the shelter and direct threats to AFESIP and its members of staff."