ECPAT International, along with Action Pour les Enfants (APLE) - ECPAT Cambodia, PEaCE - ECPAT Sri Lanka, and ECPAT Philippines, is working on a project aimed at enhancing child protection in relation to voluntourism. The initiative seeks to develop actionable models for improving regulations and governance surrounding voluntourism practices, particularly those impacting children. This effort responds to global calls for robust child protection frameworks in travel and tourism, particularly emphasized in reports by the United Nations.
ECPAT distinguishes between professional volunteering and voluntourism, the latter being characterized by unskilled volunteers who pay to work in communities, often with negative implications for child welfare. The paper advocates for regulations to manage voluntourism and protect children from associated risks, particularly in Cambodia, where the impact has been notably harmful.
Context and Trends of Voluntourism in Cambodia
Voluntourism in Cambodia is diverse, engaging both local and foreign volunteers across various projects. These initiatives promote cross-cultural exchange and involve skilled and unskilled individuals working in sectors like healthcare, education, and community development. However, many voluntourism opportunities focus on childcare, with projects occurring in orphanages and care centers.
Voluntourism Trends
Research indicates troubling trends in Cambodia's voluntourism landscape, including child abuse and financial misconduct in orphanages, where many children may have living parents. The orphanage industry has become financially motivated, leading to exploitation and emotional distress among children. Studies reveal that up to 80% of orphanages are funded by foreign donations, creating financial dependencies that perpetuate the cycle of institutionalization and commodification of poverty.
The involvement of private companies in voluntourism and inadequate vetting of volunteers raise significant concerns. Reports highlight instances where volunteers, often without proper supervision, exploit vulnerable children. The absence of specific regulatory bodies for voluntourism exacerbates the potential for abuse, further complicating the safety of children in these settings.
Recommendations for Regulation
To address the challenges posed by voluntourism, Cambodia must adopt a comprehensive regulatory framework. Key recommendations include:
Development of Laws: Establish distinct laws focusing on voluntourism involving children, including criminalization of abuse and mandatory background checks for volunteers.
Guidelines for Voluntourism: Collaborate with stakeholders to create specific guidelines that prohibit solo interactions between volunteers and children.
Enhancement of Child Protection Policies: Integrate voluntourism concerns into existing child protection frameworks.
Strengthening Enforcement: Increase monitoring and enforcement of child welfare policies related to voluntourism activities.
Community Support: Provide resources to local families to prevent child institutionalization and support community initiatives.
The Cambodian government has shown commitment to child protection through various strategic plans and policies aimed at improving the welfare of children. Recent initiatives include the Action Plan on Improving Alternative Care for Children (2023-2027) and the National Policy on Child Protection System (2019-2029), which aim to enhance family-based care and prevent unnecessary institutionalization.
Cambodia has made strides in child protection through collaborative efforts among governmental bodies and civil society organizations. Notable achievements include the implementation of the ChildSafe Initiative and the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. These initiatives focus on raising awareness and establishing standards to combat child exploitation in tourism.
The analysis of voluntourism in Cambodia reveals several critical insights:
1. Regulatory Challenges: The lack of specific laws complicates the effective regulation of voluntourism and its impact on children.
2. Monitoring Difficulties: Without clear policies, ensuring adherence to child protection standards is challenging.
3. Risks of Institutionalization: Voluntourism can contribute to the institutionalization of children, leading to various risks, including exploitation.
4. Dependency Issues: Voluntourism can perpetuate dependency on foreign aid, undermining local efforts and reinforcing negative stereotypes.
5. Importance of Collaboration: Enhanced cooperation among countries is vital for preventing exploitation and ensuring responsible volunteer engagement.
For Government and Policymakers:
- Develop specific laws addressing voluntourism.
- Create guidelines ensuring child safety during volunteer activities.
- Strengthen monitoring and enforcement of existing child protection policies.
For Law Enforcement:
- Investigate and prosecute child abuse cases related to voluntourism.
- Enhance immigration controls to prevent individuals with abusive backgrounds from participating in voluntourism.
For the Tourism Industry:
- Implement child protection measures in voluntourism programs.
- Monitor the impact of voluntourism activities regularly.
For Civil Society Organizations:
- Collaborate with government bodies to promote ethical voluntourism practices.
- Advocate for policies protecting child rights in voluntourism contexts.
For Volunteers and Travelers:
- Conduct thorough research on organizations before volunteering.
- Support sustainable community initiatives that prioritize family reunification.
