Cambodian Women's Crisis Center (CWCC)

CWCC has 3 regional offices and shelters. The central office is based in Phnom Penh and there are regional offices in Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces.

Communication services and activities provided by CWCC include:

• a Drop-in Centre - a centrally located place of first-contact for women who have been victims of violence against women and where citizens and government officials can report cases. The drop-in centre is the central point for the provision of most of the services listed below.
• a confidential crisis shelter - services include counseling and access to vocational training programmes, arts and drama activities, cooking and sewing lessons, group educational sessions (e.g. hygiene, HIV/ AIDS), and follow up services.
• a counseling programme - conducting both individual and support group sessions for clients in the shelter with the aim of exploring options.
• services for children and youth - providing counseling, recreational activities, and educational opportunities for the children of clients' who have been abused or have witnessed abuse.
• community organising - sensitising and organising community members including villagers, local authorities and local police on violence against women (VAW) and the laws about VAW, to enhance their ability to tackle the problems in their communities themselves.
• advocacy - producing nationwide television and radio spots on issues such as sex trafficking; organising public forums; producing publications; participating in international awareness raising efforts; spearheading women's coalitions; working with Ministries, officials and Members of Parliament; releasing press statements, conducting education sessions about sex trafficking in affected communities; organising special events; creating media campaigns that advocate for women's rights; and creating programmes for the victims of violence against women.
• community networking - organising a referral system for women to access CWCC's services, and networking with partner non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Ministries to provide services such as legal assistance, health care and vocational training to victims.
• capacity building - developing the skills of the staff of CWCC and the staff of other NGOs with similar programmes by organising training sessions on a variety of issues including counseling abused women and children, stress de-briefing, the operation of a confidential shelter, the laws related to VAW human rights investigations, programme management, and office skills and administration.

Violence Against Women, Gender Equality, Children, Human Rights.

According to CWCC, in Cambodia there are approximately 50,000 prostitutes of whom 64% were trafficked or sold into sexual exploitation. In addition, large numbers of Cambodians are trafficked into Thailand and forced into begging, prostitution and other forms of forced labour before being deported back to Cambodia if they are discovered by the Thai authorities. On average, 1,500 people are returned from Thailand every month. In Cambodia, one in every five women is a victim of domestic violence. The media reports rape of women and children every day. However, victims still have not received adequate assistance. CWCC believes that all victims should have intervention, so that they can escape from the violent situations they endure.