The National Committee for Counter Trafficking and APLE held a targeted awareness-raising event focusing on the prevention of human trafficking and online child sexual exploitation in Phnom Penh on July 12, 2025. This initiative aimed to empower leaders and youth members from the Catholic Pastoral Center of Cambodia with essential knowledge to keep safe and protect others.
Presided over by Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior and Permanent Vice Chair of the NCCT, the event brought together 183 participants. These included leaders and youth representatives from various Catholic action centers across Phnom Penh and several provinces under the Apostolic Prefecture of Phnom Penh.
The event’s primary objective was to enhance participants’ understanding of the complexities of human trafficking and its profound impact on victims. It also addressed the growing risks associated with online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Attendees were educated on the definitions and forms of these issues, as well as the critical importance of recognizing and reporting suspected cases through appropriate channels.
Through this event, APLE and the NCCT joined efforts in fostering community-based mechanisms to prevent human trafficking and exploitation. By educating and involving Catholic leaders and youth, the initiative sought to build a network of informed individuals committed to protecting vulnerable populations, particularly children, from exploitation and abuse.
