Situation in Cambodia?

No child should be exposed to violence or abuse or neglect. Yet, in Cambodia, one in two children has experienced severe beating and over five percent of Cambodian children experience sexual abuse before their 18th birthday (UNICEF, 2014).

Poverty, substance abuse, lack of positive parenting, domestic violence, absence of sex education, lack of knowledge and insufficient protection and reporting mechanisms are some of the main factors at play. Combined with traditional societal norms and a lack of understanding what qualifies as sexually inappropriate behavior, it is assumed that the prevalence of sexual abuse and sexually harmful behavior remains significantly underreported (FSC, 2019).

First Step Cambodia has been on the forefront to bring change in Cambodia through its wide range of programs and services.

Supporting Boys

In Cambodia, boys face an uphill struggle to receive support, while they are in a situation where they need our support the most. Boys who are sexually assaulted may experience lasting stigma. They are often expelled from and blamed by their family and community, and barely receive any support (FSC, 2019).

Global evidence suggests that at least one in six males experiences some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime, a number confirmed by research carried out in Cambodia (UNDP, 2013). A meta-analysis in the region confirmed that the median prevalence rates are higher for boys than girls, while less than 6% of boys seek help after sexual abuse, compared to 40% of girls (UNICEF, 2012 and 2014).

Impact

Until the development of FSC’s specialist services, nothing of this kind existed in Cambodia. Through their advocacy efforts, capacity building of professionals working with children in Cambodia, and their close collaboration with partners and government agencies, they are beginning to change beliefs that are mostly ill-informed taboos and improve the response given to boys when they need or seek support. Since its inception in 2010, FSC has achieved below results.

FSC Programs

FSC uses the socio-ecological model to achieve a holistic approach to tackling child sexual abuse and related issues.

Prevention

FSC increases the understanding, knowledge and awareness among school teachers, students, children, parents, caregivers, villagers, and service providers who directly engage with children. To achieve this, FSC has developed a range of educational resources and tools, which are delivered in a range of workshops and forums, and distributed for use in organizations and community settings.

Direct Support

FSC social workers provide regular counseling and therapeutic services to children for a period of up to 24 months and are always available in times of need. In most cases, they are confronted with vulnerable families and poverty-related issues. They maximize children’s chances of recovery by increasing the family’s capacity and by providing practical support: assistance in court, help in transportation, access to education and vocational training, food security, health care, and income generation. To achieve this, FSC uses a strong network of partner organizations.

Capacity Building

FSC provides specialist training to improve the capacity of professionals to deliver quality services to children and families affected by sexual abuse, harmful sexual behaviors, and psychosocial issues. They offer a wide range of training programs; including Social Work with Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Case Management, Working with Family, Social Work Practice, Alcohol Abuse, and Sexually Harmful Behavior.

Advocacy and Research

Research into the issue of sexual abuse in Cambodia is scarce, especially in relation to boys. FSC has been contributing to closing this gap via evidence-based research. In 2019, they presented their newest research paper entitled Caring for Boys Affected by Sexual Violence and used its findings to inform government and partners, create new partnerships, and address service gaps. It also resulted in a long-term national advocacy strategy. FSC’s research can be consulted here.

Financial Approach

In 2019, FSC was able to provide all its services on a total budget of $ 334.000 USD. 96% of FSC’s funding came from grants provided by multi-year partners. The remaining funds came from income generation (3.4%) and direct individual donations (0.6%).

FSC receives a yearly external audit, to ensure transparency and correct financial practice. In addition, they receive regular programmatic audits and visits from funding partners.