Programme launched to stop online exploitation of children in Cambodia on Safer Internet Day

Through local organisations, communities, coordination with the Cambodian National Council for Children (CNCC), the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MoPTC) and the Internet and tech industry, the three year programme aims to ensure that children are free from Online Sexual Exploitation (OCSE). The project will contribute to safer behaviours among children and communities, support the improvement of legal frameworks, prevention and reporting systems and increase the protection of child victims.

According to the recent Cambodia Disrupting Harm study report released in 2022, approximately 160,000 children aged 12-17 in Cambodia experience some form of OCSE, whether it is through grooming, live exploitation through video calls, sexual extortion or the production of child sexual exploitation materials such as sexualised videos and pictures. TdH NL and partners have implemented projects to address OCSE since 2017, but the issue persists as access to technology and online networks by children becomes easier and cheaper, in a context that lacks regulation and awareness from communities and decision makers.

“Our ambition for the SCROL project is to bring the voices of Cambodian children at the centre, so that decision makers at the local, subnational, and national level understand their experiences and challenges and take action to increase online safety”, said Mr. Villa Kong, Cambodia Programme Manager at TdH NL.

“There is an urgent need to keep our children safe online and give them a safer internet to play, explore, connect, and do much more in this digital age. As the implementing partner of SCROL, we hope the project will support and influence national mechanisms that enable for more effective prevention of OCSEA and protection of those at risk”, added Mr. Seila Samleang, APLE Executive Director. 

Online exploitation of children is a long-term problem that needs urgent attention and solution. Children continue to be vulnerable and become victims online. TdH NL and its partners operate in Asia and East Africa to support children who are protected from OCSE and are in a safe family and community environment.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Villa Kong, Cambodia Programme Manager at TdH NL Cambodia, Tel: +85592701616, Email: v.kong@tdh.nl

Rilian Agunos at TdH NL RO, Tel: +855 17 482 070, Email: r.agunos@tdh.nl

Note to Editor

Terre des Hommes Netherlands aims to prevent child exploitation, to remove children from exploitative situations and to ensure that these children can continue their development in a safe environment. The organisation focuses on sexual exploitation of children, the worst forms of child labour, child trafficking and migration, sexual and reproductive health and rights and on child protection in humanitarian crises. For each of these forms of child exploitation, Terre des Hommes is developing and implementing projects and programmes through local partners and one of these is the SCROL programme, which is funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery (NPL) and it is implemented in four countries: Cambodia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Kenya.