The Police Academy of Cambodia launched a new training manual on Combating Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) and kicked off a Training of Trainers (ToT) program, in collaboration with APLE Cambodia and with support from Terre des Hommes Netherlands. H.E Gen. Prof. Ek Manosen, President of the Police Academy of Cambodia, presided over the launch, highlighting the initiative as a major step forward in strengthening national police capabilities.
Seila Samleang, Executive Director of APLE Cambodia reaffirmed that the manual and ToT marked another significant step toward a stronger and sustainable child protection system in Cambodia.
Over two days at the Police Academy, 22 national police trainers completed the ToT program, actively engaging in practical exercises and case-based learning. Ms. Zoe de Melo, Terre des Hommes Netherlands said that this was meaningful progress toward ensuring every child can say, “My country takes action to stop child exploitation.”
The closing ceremony was presided over by Gen. Prof. Ek Manosen, who commended the trainers for their commitment to building national capacity to prevent and respond to OCSEA. Gen. Prof. Ek Manosen said at the closing ceremony that this milestone reflected the visionary leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sar Sokha in building a stronger, more capable National Police force.
Key topics covered during the training include children and youth in the digital world: online behaviors, platforms, and emerging risks; definitions and forms of OCSEA: typologies, indicators, and case identification; Offender tactics and victim impacts: grooming patterns, sexual extortion, and trauma-informed care; child-friendly and victim-centered principles: ethical interviewing, safeguarding, and referral pathways; Investigation procedures and relevant laws: national and international legal frameworks and cooperation mechanisms; Tools and technology: digital evidence collection, analysis, and secure handling; and Multi-stakeholder cooperation: coordinated responses among police, prosecutors, social services, tech companies, and NGOs
The OCSEA manual provides clear, practical guidance to harmonize police practice across units and provinces. The ToT model equips national trainers to cascade skills and knowledge nationwide, ensuring sustainability and impact. Improved investigative skills, victim-centered practice, and cross-sector coordination lead to faster takedowns, more effective prosecutions, and better survivor support.
This initiative was made possible through the strong support of the Police Academy of Cambodia and TdHNL, whose ongoing commitment ensures sustainability and measurable impact in child protection capacity building.
