Girl, 11, can safely return home after abuser jailed – from Hope for Justice

A young survivor is safe and able to return home now that her perpetrator is behind bars.

The girl, aged 11, told us she was “extremely happy” to receive the news that the man who exploited her had been jailed.

Until this point, we have been unable to reintegrate her with her family because the man found guilty was still living in her neighbourhood.

The survivor has been staying at our Cambodia Lighthouse – a place of refuge and holistic aftercare – for a number of months. Our team has provided trauma-informed support after she was groomed and sexually exploited.

Maggie Crewes, our Cambodia Director, said: “We are delighted that we can now support this survivor and her family to take the next steps. The survivor is keen to now move on from the Lighthouse, get back to school and get back to a more normal life. She wants to move forward from what has been a very traumatic experience at her young age.

“The perpetrator has now been called to account and jailed which is certainly great news.”

This outcome involved great teamwork in collaboration with another trafficking organization, Phnom Penh-based Chab Dai Coalition, who provided the lawyer to build the case against the perpetrator.

The abuser has been sentenced to five years and six months imprisonment. He has also been ordered to pay 12 million Cambodian Riel (KHR) – around US$3,000 – to the plaintiff.

*Image changed to protect identity of the survivor