ODW + AUSCAM
Project #276 | Building Capacity to Protect Girls from Online Sexual Exploitation
Our Partnership with AusCam Freedom Project
The most pervasive form of exploitation among children and young people in Cambodia is online child sexual exploitation, which was amplified by the pandemic as offenders, traffickers, and children all spent more time online. Predators target adolescent girls during a fragile developmental phase in order to emotionally entice and entrap them by accessing their information, obtaining photos, and developing relationships with the intent to exploit them either online or in person. Often girls are unable to recognize that they are in an unsafe relationship with someone who will later exploit them, so reporting of abuse is extremely low. This leaves millions of girls with a future that depends on their ability to resist potential trafficking.
One Day’s Wages partnered with AusCam Freedom Project to create a protective environment for adolescent girls in Cambodia and build their resistance to online sexual exploitation. Through AusCam’s “Freedom Line” – Cambodia’s only crisis helpline for young and adolescent girls – 124 girls were able to safely report their situation, receive confidential assessments by highly-trained social workers, and access psychosocial support. AusCam also supported 142 clients with case management and individualized services like counseling, food and/or shelter. Finally, AusCam was able to develop a cloud-based risk assessment tool and chatbot to effectively screen for girls at high risk. A total of 86 NGO workers and government officials are now also trained to use this tool!
Our Collective Impact
GIRLS RECEIVED SUPPORT THROUGH THE FREEDOM LINE
CLIENTS RECEIVED COUNSELING, FOOD AND/OR SHELTER
PRACTITIONERS TRAINED TO USE RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL
Meet Putheary
Like many teenage girls, Putheary* was at first excited when she met a man on the internet and they started dating. But feelings of discomfort quickly formed when her boyfriend asked her to send him nude photos. Putheary was embarrassed, yet in the thrill of her new relationship she decided to send him photos.
But her boyfriend’s requests for nude photos did not stop. Putheary tried breaking up with him because she felt like she was being exploited. In response, he asked the girl to send him $20 if she didn’t want him to post her photos on social media. Terrified of the consequences and of her family finding out, Putheary stole $20 from her parents to pay him.
In her moment of deepest fear, Putheary came across information about AusCam’s Freedom Line. She called for help. A social worker talked with Putheary, working with her to calm her fears and collect information about her case. AusCam guided her to report the nude material to Meta and ask that it be removed from the Messenger App. The social worker also supported Putheary’s family to understand what had happened and help protect her online. Putheary and her family now have safeguards in place to protect her safety and rights.
* Name changed to protect her privacy
Thank you for making this possible!
Our movement is grassroots, to us that not only means the work on the ground is led by local leaders with the support of the community, but it also means that we raise the funds for our projects through everyday donors just like you. In addition to all the donors that gave $25, $100, or $250 and the campaigners that ran a race or donated their birthday to raise funds, we also want to thank our generous business, school, and faith sponsors who believed in our work and joined the movement.
If you want to support future projects like this you can make a donation to our human trafficking fund.
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