Letter to the Cambodian Ambassador about violation of sex workers' human rights

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We international activists support the struggle for the human rights of sex workers in Cambodia.

The Cambodian Government under the influence of the US has passed a law against sex work. Since March, sex workers have been rounded up in raids, arrested, detained, denied medical services, beaten and raped by police. At least three sex workers have died in police custody. Others are being denied life-saving medicines. Earlier this year, Cambodia passed an extremely punitive law criminalizing sex work. We have evidence of grievous human rights violations committed against sex workers. One sex worker said, "I was put on the van and brought to the center but they told me not to get down when we reached the center. Four of them raped me one after another and then they allowed me to get away from the place." Police and detention centre guards openly abuse the women. Their money, jewelry, and other valuables such as phones are routinely stolen by the police. HIV-positive people who are put into the center cannot have the regular ARVs they are required to take everyday. Some women have already fallen ill as a result of the abuses and the violence committed by the security guards. No care or medical treatment has been made available to any women for their injuries or medical conditions. Dy Many of the Cambodian Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS said, "So while Cambodia is proud of its success story in the fight against AIDS, we as women living with HIV are concerned that this success is now being undone by this violation of the rights of sex workers."

Sex workers and human rights advocates condemn this brutality. We call on the government of Cambodia to protect the human rights of all women. This new law does not distinguish between trafficking and sex work. Sex work is not trafficking and the torture and rape of sex workers does not stop trafficking. We call on the government to repeal this anti-trafficking law and to promote effective HIV-prevention and treatment for all people.

How to sign on

You can sign this letter by writing to secretariat at nswp dot org with the subject CAMBODIA SIGN ON.