During our time in Cambodia we got the opportunity to work with SHE Rescue Home for a day. We instantly fell in love with the organization and the people that worked in the office. SHE Rescue Home is an amazing organization that gives girls that have been rescued out of sex trafficking a second chance. The harsh reality is that their target age for girls is between 5 and 16. Each girl is given a safe place to live, an education, medical treatment, therapeutic services, family support and vocational training. The vocational training gives these girls and their families an opportunity to make money to support themselves outside of the sex industry.
While we were there our eyes were opened to the dark truth and devastating facts about Cambodia's sex trade industry. Cambodia is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor.
Here are a few facts that we learned:
*Over 2.2 million children are sold into sex trade each year.
*There are more slaves today than any other time in history.
*The sale of virgin girls continues to be problematic in Cambodia, with foreign and Cambodian men paying $800 to $4,000 to have sex with virgins.
*It is estimated that around 30,000 young children are being exploited in the sex trade industry.
*The average child sex slave in Cambodia will service 6-7 clients a day for between $2-$2.50.
*As many as one third of sex workers in Cambodia are under the age of 18.
*Between 60,000-80,000 women and children are sexually abused each year in Cambodia.
In Cambodia a common saying is “men are gold and women are white cloth”. This statement implies that men don't lose value and can be polished clean, while women are easily stained forever. Rape is very common among young girls. Once these innocent girls are raped they are seen as stained and good for nothing other than the sex industry. The horrible reality is that most of these children are sold by family members.
This is not ok! Please check out SHE Rescue Home's website for more information on how you can become involved in raising awareness.
www.itsnotok.com
Proverbs 31:8- “SPEAK UP…for those who cannot speak for themselves. Defend those who are helpless and have no hope.”
The braclets in this picture are made and sold by victims and their families.
