Daughter returned to parents after three years in forced labour

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

In early 2009, a disadvantaged family living in Phnom Penh gave their seven-year-old daughter to a wealthy neighboring family when they felt that they could not provide the care she needed.

The neighbors promised to provide food, clothing, healthcare and education to the girl, leaving the mother thinking this was the best opportunity for her daughter’s future.

Throughout the years however, the mother began to see her daughter working in an abattoir owned by the wealthy family, and she quickly realized that her daughter was working long hours in exploitative conditions and was not being educated.

The mother confronted her neighbors but they refused to release the girl.

A partner of the NGO International Children's Care (ICC) uncovered the situation and moved to intervene, but were unsuccessful, leaving the girl captive with her future uncertain.

SISHA was referred the case by ICC and together with pressure from the local police, the SISHA team were able to have the girl released and returned safely to her mother.

The young girl is now living at an aftercare shelter where she has access to adequate food, clothing and receives an education. Her mother visits on weekends and is very happy that her daughter is now able to get the care she needs in safety.

SISHA is now cooperating with local police to gather more information and ascertain whether criminal charges should be brought against the neighboring family.