Research

LSCW has been involved in various research projects. Please click on the links below for more information.

Gender, Trafficking and the Criminal Justice System
Mapping of Anti-trafficking
Research in Prey Veng and Koh Kong provinces (Cambodia) and Trad province (Thailand)

LSCW has conducted research on ‘Gender, Human Trafficking and the Criminal Justice System in Cambodia’ (December 2003) for the Asia Regional Cooperation to Prevent People Trafficking Project (under the management of ACIL and funded by AusAID), based on studies in Banteay Meanchey and Kandal provinces. This comprised a gender analysis of issues involved in patterns of trafficking in Cambodia as well as responses of the country’s criminal justice system to the issue, highlighting weaknesses and opportunities and making recommendations in the fields of legislation and interaction between the criminal justice system and victim support agencies. .

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In the latter half of 2004, LSCW (mandated by USAID) worked with UNIAP in conducting a nationwide mapping exercise to determine gaps in the anti-trafficking activities of local and international organisations. This was part of an on-going seven country exercise which will hopefully result in an overall united strategy to combat trafficking in the ASEAN region. The GPS maps used clearly showed the main focus of the different organisations, and several gap areas were clearly indicated.

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Gender Analysis of the Patterns of Human Trafficking into and through Koh Kong Province. Research is now available in English. Please click here for the PDF (825KB).

The Situation of Cambodian Migrant Workers in Klong Yai District, Trad, Thailand, Needs Assessment and Analysis for UNIAP is now available in English. Please click here for an abridged pdf version (311KB). If you require the full length copy please contact LSCW.

In Koh Kong province by LSCW has uncovered:

• women and girls being internally trafficked to brothels and karaoke bars in the provincial capital Koh Kong;
• trafficking to Thailand into industries such as fishing, fish processing, sawmills and the sex industry;
• lack of labour rights or registration for women/girls involved in the sex industry and labour-intensive industries;
• debt bondage of girls to brothel owners;
• rape and abuse as an increasing phenomenon in the province in many remote locations.

In Trad province, both men and women are to be found, working in difficult conditions and without labour rights or legal status, abused by employers and unable to speak the language or gain access to justice or medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the same research has traced back to the source province of Prey Veng and revealed that this area constitutes one of the main sources of migration. Prey Veng is a deeply poor province and migration can reach the levels of one person for every four families; in Mesang district, one of the poorest districts, and the one where the population is most dense, this number has reached one person for every two families. Problems of increase in population and stable land availability have meant that income is decreasing for many families. The poor rice harvest owing to the drought this year has exacerbated the problem. Often, though, as seen above, migration is not successful, as migrants are cheated out of wages or are unable to make enough money to support the family back home. Moreover, trafficking is rife, and abuse of women and children is high.

Having reviewed this research, LSCW has set up offices in both Koh Kong and Prey Veng provinces, to provide legal services to women and children victims of trafficking, exploitation, rape and abuse. More information can be found on our Legal Services page.

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