Australian bike riders raise money for Cambodian victims for human trafficking
The Australian embassy on June 5 hosted a reception at the Australian embassy to welcome the arrival to Phnom Penh of 22 bicycle riders from Australian and the Untied States who are riding across Cambodia to raise money to promote greater public awareness of human trafficking and sexual abuse of women and children.
“These young people have been motivated to make a personal contribution to a serious global issue, many of them after reading about the heroic efforts of Somaly Mam, who is herself a survivor of sexual slavery. I am very proud of their magnificent efforts so far in raising so much money for such a worthy cause,” Ms Cochaud, Australian charge’ d’affaires said in reception ceremony inside embassy.
Ms Cochaud added that the trafficking of women and children for sexual or labor exploitation is a serious problem confronting many developing countries, including Cambodia. Australian supports several projects in the Mekong sub-region that aim to reduce the incidence of women and children trafficked and improve the protection, recovery and reintegration of women and children who have been trafficked.
Ms Cochaud highlighted that through the Australian Federal Police and Australia and AusAID, Australia has been assisting Cambodia to strengthen its legal framework to combat transnational crimes, including human trafficking, people smuggling and child sex tourism. AFP and AusAID are actively cooperating with the ministries of the interior, Justice and women’s affairs to protect victims of human trafficking and promote greater public awareness of human trafficking and sexual abuse of women and children.
Look 2 the Future’s founder, Ms Stephanie Lorenzo, a young Australian from Sydney, is participating and leading in the ride said that the two week cycling journey covering 590km through Vietnam and Cambodia was organized by “The Look 2 The Future” organization as part of its Future 10 project.
Stephanie noted that in 2009, the first future cycle had 21 riders and raised over 790,000 US dollars. This year, 22 riders have gone global and raised 150,000 US dollars to be donated Somaly Mam Foundation for a project to raise awareness about human trafficking, one of the world’s most prevalent transnational crimes.
At the reception, the Australian charge d’ affaires, Ms Fiona Cochaud and Ms Lorenzo presented, with a cheque for 150,000 US dollars from riders’ sponsor.
“We are trying to wake up raising awareness about human trafficking and stop violence on women and girls in Southeast Aia region, said Ms Stephanie Lorenzo. “We are riding under torrerial rain with hard conditions and wet. And it is very complicated but we all committed to help raise money for this work,” Stephanie added. “We are trying to make issues and urge all sides to take actions on human trafficking and protect the human rights to respect their rights,” Stephanie noted. We all condemn all kinds of human trafficking and want to see the prosecution on cases of human trafficking, Stephanie stresses.
“I hope in the next few years the situation will be better. Our commitment and project will continue to help the fund, Stephanie added. Stephanie said: project occurred after she knew girl who survived from human trafficking and that girl told me about her story. I thought that I should do something for our life to raise awareness about this matter,” Stephanie added. “We all thanked your commitment to help us and other victims especially help contribute vocational training,” said Van Sina, a senior official and victim from Somaly Mam Foundation. “Your commitment, we will not forget,” she added. ###
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