On June 23, the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia joined Bill Livermore, Somaly Mam Foundation’s Executive Director, for an unprecedented tour of rehabilitation center for women and girls in Siem Reap. These centers provide critical vocational training, educational services, mental health and medical care, and training in life skills for victims of sexual slavery. Ambassador Carol Rodley expressed deep admiration for the strong partnership between the US-based Somaly Mam Foundation <http://www.somaly.org> and the Cambodian NGO, AFESIP <http://afesip.org/kh>, that is providing survivor services to the young victims of sexual slavery.

While at the Siem Reap center she observed a number of vocational classes underway before sitting down to help young survivors with their studies. Guiding her on her tour was a survivor named Sina who later shared her story with the ambassador. Livermore was glad to have the opportunity to bring attention to the high-quality programs that have been made possible by the dedicated and talented staff running the shelters, and financial support from the Somaly Mam Foundation. The scope and quality of the school, health services, and reintegration programs clearly impressed Ambassador Rodley.

Ambassador Rodley, the first female ambassador to Cambodia who took her post in October of 2008, is well aware of the impact that the deteriorating economic climate is having on Cambodia’s sex trafficking. In follow-up discussions, the global economic crisis and a decrease in enforcement in areas of the country were blamed for the shocking increase in the number of Cambodian girls being forced into sexual slavery.

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