Legal Support for Children and Women is dedicated to acting to improve law enforcement and prevention strategies to combat human trafficking and abuse. Prior to its formal establishment in July 2002, LSCW’s director travelled extensively in Cambodia, undertaking comprehensive research into Cambodian family life. LSCW has conducted extensive research, including on ‘Gender, Human Trafficking and the Criminal Justice System in Cambodia’. LSCW has just completed a gender analysis of trafficking into and though Koh Kong (to Trad). Click here for a pdf of this report.

LSCW has also worked on awareness-raising and, with support from the Ministry of Justice and legal advisors, has produced a publication: a simple illustrated guide to relevant laws on premature marriage, and the nature of divorce, entitled Booklet on the Prevention of Premature Marriage and Divorce. A second publication, How to Protect Yourself, provides practical advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of trafficking using multiple sample case studies, with a synopsis of the relevant laws and a table about drugs. In addition, LSCW has conducted a number of workshops and awareness-raising seminars on premature marriage, domestic violence, trafficking and related law, in Banteay Meanchey province (2003) and Koh Kong (April 2004).

Currently, women have little voice in the judicial and legal enforcement sector, and there are very few female judges and lawyers in Cambodia. Although trafficking and abuse affects men, the majority of cases are of women and girls. It is not sensible to expect that a woman who has been forced to serve male clients as a sex worker, who may have been treated violently, raped or abused, would then choose to relate these experiences to a male. The same is true of victims of exploitation, rape and abuse.

Accordingly, increasing female participation in legal services and aid is a step towards eliminating a barrier to effective law enforcement, as victims are empowered to speak out against traffickers through another female voice. It is this principle issue that is the backbone of LSCW’s policy of training and building the capacity of young Cambodian female lawyers.

It is the belief of LSCW that the participation and training of young female lawyers can encourage victims to come forward to seek legal justice and redress for crimes against them.

LSCW is independent of all political parties and is a non-profit organisation, run by Ms Ly Vichuta. The team is made up of more than 30 members, of which the majority are women. Two legal advisers are in place. Mrs Shelley Preece works on questions relates to trafficking of persons and also participates in project management. Mrs Poeung Thyda, with 10 years of experience at the Bar in Cambodia, participates in the training of LSCW staff (lawyers and legal assistants). Other members of the team supply legal services to women and children according to the following departments: a mobile protection team and a team responsible for prevention (both based in Phnom Penh), and a legal team in Prey Veng and one in Koh Kong. The Board of Administration is made up of four members, from Cambodia (the Ministry of Justice), from Japan and from Canada.

LSCW is a member of the Coalition to Address Sexual Exploitation of Children in Cambodia (COSECAM), Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW) in Thailand, Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) in Malaysia, and Asia Pacific Women Watch network (APWW) in the Philippines.

LSCW’s work is carried out with the generous support of donors, funding institutions, NGOs and private citizens all over the world. People can get involved and make a difference to their world by simple acts like volunteering, donating to our emergency appeals, and offering sponsorship and bequests. Our thanks to the many private individuals who have helped us, and to our current and past donors, incuding: British Embassy Phnom Penh, Forum Syd, Oxfam GB, NOVIB, the Netherlands Embassy, the Asia Foundation (TAF), East-West Management Institute (EWMI), AusAid, and UNIAP.

For Annual Report 2005 please click here.