In 2003, Action Pour Les Enfants [APLE] was established in Phnom Penh, Cambodia as a child rights based NGO. Initially, APLE assisted the police with investigations into street-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and provided pro-bono legal support to victims and their families. As APLE gained more knowledge and expertise in combatting child sexual abuse, its operations expanded.
In 2005, APLE opened an office in the coastal town of Sihanoukville, due to an increase of suspected child sexual abuse in the area, often committed by travelling sex offenders. In the same year, APLE began offering social support to those affected by child sexual abuse and exploitation after detecting a lack of integral services in Cambodia. The social program was very well received and, to this day, is carried out in collaboration with partner NGOs, such as M’Lop Tapang in Sihanoukville.
In 2007, due to concerns about the increased flow of foreign nationals, poverty, minimal education, and vulnerable children, APLE opened a third office in Siem Reap. Each of APLE’s teams has become a critical and effective mechanism in the fight to end child sexual abuse and exploitation.
In 2014, APLE undertook a significant organizational restructure to ensure maximum efficiency in its operations. APLE updated and reorganized its activities into a child protection portfolio consisting of four core programs and nine projects, again with the aim of increasing APLE’s organizational and operational efficiency. In addition, APLE registered as a local NGO in 2014 to better reflect the true Cambodian character.
As child sexual abuse and exploitation trends have shifted both worldwide and in Cambodia, APLE adapts to the ever-changing environment as a response to the increased risks for children.
APLE’s 2016 – 2020 strategy was driven to concentrate on 4 interconnected programs that tackled child sexual abuse and exploitation in a holistic way, including criminal justice development; court support; community engagement; and research and advocacy.
