On 5-8 June 2012 at the AFESIP Main Office, Mr. Som Sophatra, Admin HR and Communication Coordinator, and Mr. Mam Khon, Tomdy Center Manager, conducted the initial workshop on Policy and Minimum Standard for Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking to 33 participants—center, program and department managers, and Voices for Change team members. Since then, middle management has been conducting subsequent workshops on the policies to ensure full compliance from all staff at AFESIP.

AFESIP has thus far developed and conducted workshops on its own policies. These policies, Child Protection Policy, Child Abuse Policy, and Staff Code of Conduct, protect victims of human trafficking for sex slavery. All staff were required to attend this workshop. In addition, AFESIP conducted a photography policy workshop aimed at protecting victims’ identification and their privacy. Overall, these workshops are in response to the proliferation of smart phones, cameras, and social media. Used in tandem, the identities’ of our beneficiaries could too easily be revealed without their knowledge or consent.

All managers were advised to conduct similar workshops for all staff that were unable to attend. Consecutively, Health Program Manager, Mr. Uong Chheng, and Tomdy Center manager, Mr. Mam Khon, held their own separate workshops on 10-11 July and 6-8 August 2012.

The Health Program workshop was conducted with Mr. Uong Chheng and Mr. So Sayon as facilitators and Mr. Mam Khon as supervisor. 15 staff participated; 5 social workers from Phnom Penh Main office, 5 social workers from provincial branch offices, 2 from AFESIP’s clinic, and 3 from the reintegration program.

Tomdy Center workshop was held from 6-8 August 2012 and facilitated by Mr. Mel Sopheach, Assistant to Training Manager, and Mr. Trok Vuthy, Assistant to Tomdy Center Manager. Mr. Som Sophatra and Mr. Mam Khon, Tomdy Center Manager chaired the workshop. 14 staff participated: domestic cook, non-formal trainer, sewing trainer, psychologist, driver, child caretaker, small business/life skill trainer, Nutrition Development staff, and 3 guards.

Lastly, due to time constraints and current workloads, Siem Reap Center and Somaly House will schedule their workshop dates on Policy and Minimum Standard later this month. All the trainees are given certificates of completion if they pass the thirty minute test at the end of each workshop.