ChildSafe Hotline
On 27 February 2009, SISHA and Friends International’s ChildSafe Network signed an agreement to work together to protect children in Cambodia.
Under the agreement, calls received by ChildSafe’s hotline regarding issues of child sex tourism and other related violations against children are now primarily referred to SISHA. When the ChildSafe hotline receives information about a case of potential child abuse, SISHA is contacted to further investigate the information, perform surveillance, and pursue prosecution of child abusers where appropriate. The partnership between ChildSafe and SISHA streamlines efforts to investigate these types of cases and bring child abusers to justice before they have a chance to abuse children again or, ideally, to prevent abuse from occurring in the first place.
According to ChildSafe Country Coordinator, Lyna Kaul, “Calls to the ChildSafe hotline increased 410 per cent in 2008, with a total of 810 calls made. This shows the need for good services. The partnership between ChildSafe and SISHA will benefit the community and particularly children and families. We are pleased to be working with SISHA, whose staff are incredibly professional, responsive and sensitive to the needs of victims of abuse.”
The ChildSafe hotline number in Phnom Penh is 012 311 112.
SISHA Executive Director signing Partnership Agreement with Mr Mark Turgesen, ChildSafe International Coordinator on 27 February 2009
About ChildSafe
The ChildSafe Hotline is only one of the many activities within the Cambodia ChildSafe Network program that is coordinated by Friends-International. The ChildSafe Network program consists of a network of individuals and businesses in all tourist areas, including Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap, who have taken a stand to condemn the sexual exploitation of children. The network provides information and trainings to moto-taxi and taxi drivers, hotels and guesthouses, restaurants and internet café owners to help them learn how to protect children from all kinds of risk situations.
Local magazines can be ChildSafe if they agree not to advertise places or contents which are particularly dangerous for children and if they have a special listing which promotes ChildSafe venues. Travel agents and tour operators cooperate with the ChildSafe campaign – tour guides and leaders are trained to pass on ChildSafe traveller information to their customers. ChildSafe network members are easily recognised by the ChildSafe white “thumbs up” logo and tourists are encouraged to use these ChildSafe network members when visiting Cambodia.
The ChildSafe Centre
In June 2007, the first ChildSafe Information and Referral Centre opened in Phnom Penh. The centre is open to anyone interested in the ChildSafe program, but is used particularly for ChildSafe members to receive refresher trainings, materials, and English and Road Safety classes, and for travellers (tourists and business travellers) to learn more about street children and how they can protect them during their journey.
The centre is open 24 hours, 7 days a week as a safe haven for children at risk of abuse who need immediate support and referral to appropriate services (e.g. counselling, reintegration to their family, police and legal complaints, medical assistance, remedial education, vocational training etc.).
The ChildSafe Centre is located near the National Museum, at #186, Street 13, Sangkat Chey Choum Neas, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh (opposite Mith Samlanh Training Centre and Friends the Restaurant).
For more information about ChildSafe, please visit to www.childsafe-cambodia.org.
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