A significant reflection workshop was held on June 30, 2025, in Phnom Penh to address the prevention and response to online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). Co-organized by APLE Cambodia and the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), the event received financial support from Terre des Hommes Netherlands.
The workshop gathered 59 key stakeholders, including representatives from the NCCT, secretariats of the Provincial Committees for Counter Trafficking from Phnom Penh, Kandal, Battambang, and Kratie, as well as APLE staff, donor representatives, and members of the Consultative Council for Women and Children, and the Commune Committee for Women and Children.
Hosted by Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior and Permanent Vice-Chairperson of the NCCT, the workshop served as a platform for participants to exchange experiences, share best practices, and reflect on key challenges. Collaborative solutions to strengthen efforts against OCSEA in Cambodia were also explored.
A key highlight was the presentation of evaluation findings from APLE’s SCROL project training and awareness-raising activities, which achieved an impressive 98% of its overall target. Notably, 86.85% of training participants rated the sessions as highly important, while 83.39% expressed their intent to share the knowledge gained.
Panel and group discussions further identified strengths, persistent challenges, and areas needing improvement. Participants emphasized the urgent need for continued and coordinated efforts to combat OCSEA, highlighting its increasing prevalence both globally and within Cambodia. Regular assessments of the effectiveness of current strategies and necessary adaptations were strongly endorsed.
