Four young survivors of child sexual abuse material crimes, aged 9 to 14 years during the time of abuse, have received USD 9,800 in compensation from their offenders. These two separate cases involve the distribution of child pornography (Article 41, LSHTSE) and the commission of indecent acts against minors under fifteen years old (Article 43, LSHTSE), with eight male offenders implicated.
All the survivors courageously reached out to the APLE hotline for support, where they were connected with social and legal services offered by APLE and its partner NGO, ensuring they received the care and assistance they needed.
Due to the barrier related to identifying the offender’s property, the survivors agreed to receive compensation during court proceedings. Among the eight offenders, three have been found guilty and sentenced to six months of imprisonment under Article 41 of the LSHTSE. Legal proceedings against the remaining five offenders are still ongoing.
These cases highlight the critical need for victim support, child-friendly justice processes, and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable. Cambodian law provides survivors the right to claim compensation, offering some measure of justice for the harm caused.
While the compensation marks a step forward, the survivors’ journey toward healing and comprehensive justice continues.
