AFESIP Cambodia’s social outreach work under the Health Department covers 7 out of 24 provinces across the country. The social outreach teams regularly visit prostitution areas to distribute condoms and other hygienic and sanitary items as well as raise awareness regarding HIV/AIDS and self-protection. These visits are essential because they provide the first opportunity for victims to develop trust in AFESIP; without this opportunity, the organization would be incapable of providing assistance to women and girls in need. After developing rapports with women and girls working in the sex industry, the outreach team informs them about AFESIP’s services (clinic) and provides them with an exit strategy from sexual exploitation. Concurrently, the outreach teams identify trafficking victims and elicit information about brothels and other places of prostitution.
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Lessons on human rights, domestic
violence, drugs related to HIV/AIDS,
and other STDs are demonstrated by
the Social worker to sex workers
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A 2003 study published in the scientific Journal of Trauma Practice revealed that 89 percent of women in prostitution want to escape prostitution (2005 Trafficking In Persons Report). It is in this context that the outreach team endeavours to meet with as many women and girls as possible to inform them about AFESIP services and provide them with an exit strategy from prostitution. Victims trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation can be subject to extreme violence and face physical and emotional injuries from forced sexual activity, substance abuse, and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Some victims even suffer permanent damage to their reproductive organs.
AFESIP ’s outreach team informs women and girls about AFESIP ’s clinic, which provides medical care to both visitors and residents of AFESIP centres. At times, outreach teams also accompany them to the clinic where they receive medical treatment. Treatment is administered by the AFESIP clinic and, when necessary, through outside clinics, specialized hospitals, or NGOs.
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| Friendly talk with sex workers |
After the closure of some of the brothels around the country, AFESIP Cambodia has noticed that many of the sex workers hang around even in the daytime at the public parks across the city such as at Wat Phnom, Independence Public Park, Phsar Chas Park and near Buddhist Stupa Park in order to wait for their clients. Our social workers have approached them for related information.
A SURVEY
Our outreach team recently took the opportunity to survey the situation of the sex workers currently scattered all over the park. Interviews have shown that a number of sex workers have rented a house in a group and come to the parks every day to wait for their clients. At night, some of these young women work karaoke bars or dancing clubs and others remain in the park in search of clients.
AFESIP CLINIC IN PHNOM PENH (Health Department)
The establishment of AFESIP clinic is aimed at improving the physical health for the center residents, reintegrated women, and brothel and non-brothel based sex workers.
Its main objective is to provide medical check-ups and treatment to the residents in the centers and the brothel and non-brothel based sex workers.
The AFESIP Clinic, under the supervision of the Health Department, has employed a medical doctor and two mid-wives. They specialize in gynecology and work closely with all the centers to provide medical service to the center residents.
The Health Department Manager is responsible for developing policies and guidelines for the direction and coordination of activities within all relevant departments/centers.The department manager regularly joins weekly and monthly meetings with all departments/centers in order to update information and improve activities.
The clinic staff works on a rotating schedule, traveling to the 3 centers and working closely with the reintegration team to provide medical check-ups and treatment for the reintegrated women at their home communities.
A Tuk-Tuk (rickshaw) belonging to AFESIP Clinic provides free transport to and fro for the brothel and non-brothel based sex workers so that they may come to the clinic for free medical check-ups and treatment. On average, 83 girls visit AFESIP Clinic every month.
The brothel and non-brothel based sex workers who visit AFESIP Clinic receive advice, counseling, and encouragement to quit prostitution from a counselor. Mr. So Sayon, the senior counselor, has been successful in convincing 10 girls in the past six months to leave the sex industry and enter one of AFESIP’s centers for training in vocational skills.
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Left: Dr. Ma Ly examines a client who visited the clinic.
Right: Mr. So Sayon, AFESIP Counselor, meets with his client and tries to convince her to leave sex business. |
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The brothel and non-brothel based sex workers visit the AFESIP Clinic individually or in groups for their consultation and medical treatment. AFESIP Clinic provides them with sweets, a basket of nail decorations, and beads for making necklaces. At right, a group of women enjoy these treats together.
