*EPF409 02/15/01
Text: International Organization Rescues Trafficking Victims
(Twelve children returned to Cambodia from Thailand) (550)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports the successful rescue of 12 Khmer children working under forced labor conditions after being trafficked from their homes in Cambodia.

According to February 13 press briefing notes, an IOM spokesman described the effort as part of a three-year project for the return and reintegration of trafficked women and children in the Mekong Region. The program has helped about 800 trafficking victims since 1996.

Human trafficking is widely recognized in the international community as the fastest growing form of transnational criminal activity.

Founded through a joint initiative of the United States and Belgium in 1951, the IOM is an intergovernmental organization "committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society," according to its mission statement.

Following is the text of the press briefing notes:

(begin text)

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION

Press Briefing Notes
13 February 2001
Niurka Pineiro, IOM Spokesperson

Thailand -- Return of Trafficked Children

Twelve Khmer children between 10 and 12 years old were returned to Cambodia today as part of IOM's three-year project for the return and reintegration of trafficked women and children in the Mekong Region. The children were trafficked to Thailand two months ago to work as beggars and/or flower sellers on the streets of Bangkok. The majority of the children come from rural impoverished communities and were "rented" to the traffickers by the parents to secure an advance loan from the trafficker. Several of the children told IOM they had been beaten and threatened by the traffickers if they did not earn enough money -- some said they were forced to eat the flowers they could not sell as a form of psychological abuse.

Since 1996 the IOM office in Bangkok has assisted some 800 victims of trafficking to return to Cambodia. Last year, with additional funding from the Government of Australia (through its development agency AusAID), the project was expanded and is now placing heavy emphasis on building sustainable reintegration structures by providing capacity building assistance to IOM's Government and NGO counterparts. This IOM assistance includes on-the-job training in psycho-social rehabilitation, counseling, family tracing and assessment, developing proper reception facilities and systems for ongoing monitoring and support. IOM's overall goal is to promote sustainable long-term reintegration through the development of the Social Welfare Ministries/Departments.

Once in Cambodia, three reception centres shelter the returned victims. The children stay at the reception centres between two to three months until their families are traced. These centres provide food, shelter, security, counselling services, medical assistance, family tracing and reunification, and follow-up visits. If family reunion is not possible, children are placed in longer-term NGO or Government centres.

The children are provided with educational support such as school materials, school fees and/or skills training. IOM staff in Thailand and Cambodia report that in order to prevent re-trafficking of children, long-term reintegration assistance for children and their families needs to be increased. Activities such as vocational training, job placements, income-generating activities and/or credit schemes need to be put in place. The issue of family debts also needs to be addressed to avoid the temptation of sending children back to Thailand.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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