PLHIV and deadly gunbattle between Cambodian-Thai troops at the border

A young lady draws a cart full of her belongs while her sister is pushing from behind. Hundreds of Cambodian villagers, including People Living with HIV (PLHIV), living along the Cambodian-Thai border evacuated their homes after deadly fighting between the Cambodian and Thai troops on 15 October, 2008.

By Chhay Sophal

People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and AIDS workers living and working near the Cambodian-Thai border expressed their satisfaction that the two nations had agreed to resumes talks for peace after the outbreak of deadly fighting in three different places along the border in the northern part of the country on 15 October. They said if the gunbattle had become more serious and extended, it would have caused mass evacuations and interrupted services and food supplies for PLHIV.

The more than one-hour exchange of rocket and gunfire resulted in casualties on both sides. It happened after the four-month standoff along the Cambodian-Thai border, near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear. The standoff started in mid July after the temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, which angered Thai nationalists who argue the site belongs to Thailand and who accused their political leadership of caving in by agreeing to the listing.

After the clashes, thousands of Cambodian civilians, including PLHIV, not only near disputed areas but also in some other places along the border evacuated their homes for safety, while Thai citizens in Cambodia also fled after their embassy in Phnom Penh urged evacuations.

“Fearing of fighting eruption, our PLHIV living next to the border moved to the city center for safety,” said Yorn Nath, a HIV-positive widow, living in Pailin, a town several kilometers away from the border in northwestern country. Nath, who is also an HIV peer educator in her community for Battamabng Women’s AIDS Project (BWAP), said she and other PLHIV are happy to hear of the ceasefire. “When fighting erupts along the border, our people fled their homes to escape bullets and artilleries. Such fleeing is affected to our PLHIV who get ARV and food supply from the WFP.”

Ms Ing Siv Heng, BWAP Director, said her organisation covers more than 150 PLHIV just in Pailin. She said she is happy to hear that the two sides are seeking peaceful talks to return to a normal situation. “If fighting happens and extends, our PLHIV are facing challenges with their health.”

It’s time for Cambodian women to take ICT

OPINION

By Chhay Sophal

What is ICT?
It’s the abbreviation of “Information & Communication Technology”

It sounds complicated not only for most of the Cambodian women but also men, beyond the Information Technology (IT). ICT is the art of communicating and sharing information through a computer system. It’s a fast and very powerful tool to post and get the global issues. Because of ICT, nothing can be hidden and cannot be solved in our world. Through the World Wide Web (WWW) or Web Portal and Blogs, we can establish networks to learn and share experiences, lessons learnt, and best practices to each other. With ICT, we’re ready for positive changes of individuals, families, communities, and the whole society. With E-communication/online communication, we can fast exchange our views.

Cambodia’s widely known as one of the least development nations. To remove such unpopular name from the world list, capacity building is the key part that the Royal Government, especially the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Veterans, in the fourth mandate and NGOs must put into their strategic and operational plans. And capacity building must think about gender equality. Most of the Cambodian women still rely on their spouses in terms of family business and finance. Husbands are the breadwinners and sometimes making decision without consulting with their wives. After marriage, women are responsible for housework, especially looking after children and cooking. They have no chance to take their knowledge to apply in the outside world. Due to the country’s cultural norm deeply rooted in the Cambodians’ concepts, low education, lacking of accessibility to information, and law enforcement, sexual harassment, rape, violent, cheating, sexual exploitation and trafficking, stigma and discrimination still exist in the current Cambodian society. But now, we need a change for our progress, dignity, and prosperity. When women are empowered with IT knowledge and more accessibility to ICT, they get lots of useful information to improve their life quality wherever they are. Through their dialogues on Web Portal and Blogs, women can find solutions to problems, obstacles and challenges they’re facing. Through ICT, women can be aware of, for instance, having sex and marriage at young age can badly affect to their reproductive health. With ICT, women can understand about safe sex without getting HIV transmission and other Sexual Transmission Diseases. When women are healthy, their families are healthy with happiness and the society is also in the same situation.

Notably, countries taking the policy of gender equity and their citizens can equally access to ICT are the open societies with democracy, human rights respect, and rule of law. Women can make a good society. For instance, children are closer and friendlier with mothers than fathers. When mothers have high knowledge and good advices, the children will become the good kids and good citizens in the society. Women, therefore, are the most important developing partners in both inside and outside families. With ICT, women know what’s happening around them so that they can prevent themselves, their families and communities.

To reach these, women must get training and capacity strengthening on IT, especially the basis of computer system. With IT, women can access to WWW or Web Portal and create their Blogs. However, women must have strong commitment to build their capacity. While human resource’s provided to women, all school-aged girls must also be sent to school. Parents must send daughters to school and provide them equal opportunity with the sons to get general knowledge and IT.

That’s why IT knowledge and accessibility to ICT are the essential parts of women’s participation in development. It’s time for women to take ICT in the IT era.

AIDS education in driving schools and buses

A bus taking passengers from Battambang province to Phnom Penh on 20 September played DVD on Mr. Bean to entertain its passengers. The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation wants to insert spots on HIV and AIDS during the entertainment.

By Chhay Sophal
In an effort to raise public awareness on HIV and AIDS
and to bring the country’s AIDS prevalence down from 0.9%,
the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation has started
cooperating with both state and private driving schools.
It is also finding partners or donors to produce some
spots to be shown on public buses.

In his session on the second day of the three-day 3rd National AIDS Conference, Mr. Vann Than, official from Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, said that as part of its National Operational Plan, the ministry plans to have such projects nationwide. “Between 1,500 and 2,000 people get licenses from the driving schools every month just only in Phnom Penh capital. This is a bit huge number. It is therefore a good opportunity to raise awareness for them. If the driving students fail to answer the questions on AIDS, they cannot pass the exam to get the license,” he said. There are more than 10 driving schools in Phnom Penh, and most of them have their branches in provinces, he added.

According to Mr. Vann Than, the ministry also wants to have a project to produce spots on HIV and AIDS and the spots will be shown on buses taking passengers from Phnom Penh to provinces. “Each bus has VCD and DVD players. So the drivers can show the spots to their passengers, a big part of raising awareness on the epidemics and its effect. But such project we need partners and donors.”

There are several private public transportations and thousands of passengers travel on them daily, according to Mr. Vann Than.

Govt. official: Prostitution crackdown and AIDS prevention need to be reconciled

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Minister Sok An gives his remark at the closing 3rd National AIDS Conference.

By Chhay Sophal

In a demonstration of his understanding of some of the challenges in responding to HIV that have arisen due to the country’s new law on “Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation”, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An has urged AIDS workers to send a joint-appropriate request to the royal government to help review the law.

Speaking in his closing remarks on the final day of the three-day 3rd National AIDS Conference on 12 September, H.E Sok An, who is also Minister of the Council of Ministers, said he really understands the difficulties that strict implementation of the law causes for AIDS workers who work for HIV prevention through condom use

The anti-trafficking law was launched on 15 February this year with the aim of cracking down on crimes of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The controversial article 23 states: “Prostitution in this law shall mean having sexual intercourse with an unspecified person or other sexual conduct of all kinds in exchange for any value”.

Since the launching of the law, sex workers and AIDS activists have expressed their concerns over local police warning owners of karaoke parlors, night clubs, bars and hotels that they will be finned if their premises contain condoms. According to reports of a few NGOs, since the inception of the law many brothels have closed and sex workers are in hiding while people are afraid of talking openly about or displaying condoms. The reports said such law enforcement affects the 100 % of condom use program, and may lead to the widespread of HIV and AIDS. Some sex workers also made complaints that they were arrested by local police and asked for money for their releases.

On 4 June, a group of sex workers gathered in Phnom Penh to urge the government and lawmakers to revise the law. As a result of this law, they said, sex workers are being arrested, detained, fined and forced out of their jobs. According to the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS), there are an estimated 3,430 direct sex workers and 13,723 indirect sex workers in Cambodia.

In his reaction, H.E Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said that sex workers had to prove that his police had committed such acts in order for the ministry to take legal action to punish them.

Based on the country’s roper custom, culture, reputation and dignity, Deputy Prime Minster So An said, prostitution is unacceptable. He, however, recognized the truth that prostitution is everywhere around the world, including Cambodia, and that “the crackdown and complete elimination of prostitution in the current situation is an absolutely impossible mission”.

Sok An said he also learnt that police had arrested some women who have condoms as police suspected that they are sex workers. Because of this, he said, sex workers are hiding in secret places where they cannot access condoms, which leads to HIV transmission. He said he had talked to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng to find an effective way for crackdown on prostitution that does not affect HIV prevention.

Sok An’s reaction was made after Ms. Erin Soto, Mission Director of USAID/Cambodia, had mentioned in her opening remark at the first day of the conference that the 100% condom use program would only remain effective if “condoms are available in all entertainment establishment”. She said cooperation is needed to “ensure implementation of the new anti-trafficking legislation does not hinder the continued success of HIV prevention program”.

Sok An compared the law enforcement and HIV prevention to taking medicine for health. “If we take much Aspirin to release headache, it can affect stomach. It is the same. If we strictly implement the law it can affect HIV prevention. Therefore, prostitution crackdown and AIDS prevention must go together. While we are keeping the country’s cultural value, we also want to have HIV prevention in the country at the same time”.

Cambodian journalists get Award for AIDS reporting

H.E Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Ministers, hands over an appreciation letter and a symbol of US$1,000 bill to one of the three winners. H.E Dr. Mom Bun Heng (left), Health Ministry Secretary of State, and Tony Lisle (right), UNAIDS Country Coordinator to Cambodia.

By Chhay Sophal

On 12 September at the closing of the 3rd National AIDS Conference, KHANA offered the “Purple Award” to three Cambodian print journalists for their best articles on HIV and AIDS. The winners got US$1,000 with a Parker pen and an appreciation letter each and the Award was honorably handed over by H.E Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Cabinet Ministry.

The award aims at encouraging the Cambodian journalists to actively participate in reducing the impact of HIV and AIDS through their news articles. According to the terms of the competition, the articles must address categories related to HIV and AIDS, such as increasing awareness and education, reducing stigma and discrimination, and showing compassion to People Living with HIV and those who are affected by AIDS in the country.

Twenty four articles from fifteen local working journalists were sent to KHANA for competition. The articles had already been printed in their newspapers and magazines between 1 December, 2006 and 31 October, 2007. According to the original plan, the award ceremony was to have taken place at the World AIDS Day of 1 December, 2007. It was delayed, however, as KHANA wanted to organize it for the 3rd National AIDS Conference.

Six judges -- three are AIDS activists from both governmental and non-governmental organizations and three others are professional journalists -- properly and fairly marked the articles in three steps and on different criteria: general concepts on HIV and AIDS based on accuracy, language use, journalism writing craft, using news sources and vocabulary.

Mr. Puy Kea, a Phnom Penh-based correspondent of Japan’s Kyodo News and one of the judges, said that, though the three selected articles do not reach international journalism standards, they represent the best articles on AIDS among the 24 articles submitted. He said that this indicates the first step that the Cambodian journalists take part in competition. “Learning from this competition, I think journalists will take their past experience and try their best for the next competition,” he added.

It is the first time that KHANA offered award to journalists since its establishment in 1996.

UNAIDS Official: Prevention is urgently needed in Cambodia

Tony Lisle, UNAIDS Country Coordinator to Cambodia, delivers his remark at the 3rd National AIDS Conference on 10 September while H.E. Sok An (far left), Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Ministers, looks on.

By Chhay Sophal

At Cambodia’s 3rd National AIDS Conference in Phnom Penh in September, Tony Lisle, UNAIDS Country Coordinator to Cambodia, said AIDS prevention in the country is the key to stopping new infections, and without it the country will face a crisis in treatment in the long run.

“The implications of HIV prevention failure are clear: unless we act now, treatment queues will get longer and longer and it will become more and more difficult to get anywhere near universal access to antiretroviral therapy,” Tony said in his opening remark at the three-day conference on 10-12 September. He said that, though the treatment imperative remains as strong as ever, the best way in the long run to stop people from getting AIDS is to reduce new infections “in the first place.”

Tony affirmed that the Cambodians aged 10-24 represent about 36% of the country’s population, or 4.6 million people, and need innovative prevention. He also said that the country’s vulnerable groups, such as sex workers, men who have sex with men and drug users, are at high risk and prevention must be improved. “Cambodia continues to witness serious concentrated epidemics among these populations. We are now seeing patterns of ‘double or triple risk’ behaviour; for instance MSM and sex workers who inject drugs and who also sell sex to men and women. Additionally, HIV prevention coverage for all of these populations remains unacceptably low.”

Tony said IEC, posters and billboards are not going to reach the target groups. He argued that “social and behavioural communications and sex education programming need to be relevant and innovative; only then will we be able to establish the foundation for generation of HIV-Free adults”.

The most effective way to achieve effective prevention is through the 100% condom use program. Speaking in his open remarks, H.E. Sok An, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Ministers also urged promotion of the 100% condom use program.

In her speech at the Conference, Erin Soto, Mission Director of USAID/Cambodia, expressed her appreciation of the Cambodian government for its close work with “the donor community, civil society and NGOs, implemented the 100% Condom Use Program, which is saving lives.” She said the next step for the Cambodian government is “to ensure the sustainability of its HIV/AIDS programs through increased budget allocation”.

Though the rate of Cambodian adult prevalence has declined from 2% in 1998 to 0.9% in 2006, AIDS experts warned that if prevention is not taken as a priority the country could see a second wave of infections. Over 29,000 Cambodian people are now taking ARV medication.

Sharing different forms of HIV/AIDS IEC materials within the region

Facilitators present a Cambodia’s T-shirt with picture and massage on HIV and AIDS as an IEC example to the participants at the workshop in Bangkok.

By Chhay Sophal

People Living with HIV (PLHIV), HIV/AIDS workers and media people have recently met in Bangkok, Thailand, to share experiences, lessons learned, and best practice methods when utilizing Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, in the context of strengthening HIV and AIDS approaches, towards gaining Universal Access in the region. The meeting entitled “Working Together: IEC Workshop” was hosted by AIDS ACCESS Foundation on 21-23 May. Some 30 people from seven countries -- Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam -- attended the workshop. Among the attendees there was one KHANA representative, and two representatives from KHANA’s implementing partners, SEADO and CPN+. Workshop facilitator Waranuch Chinvarasopak emphasized that the gathering in Bangkok would allow for an IEC network to be established and a framework provided to encourage each country to establish a national network. “During the three day workshop, we will be sharing our goals and visions on HIV and AIDS regarding to the prevention of new infections, promoting quality of life of PLHIV by reducing stigma and discrimination, and increasing access to quality care and treatment,” Chinvarasopak said. IEC is extremely important for initiating and supporting social and behavioral changes. IEC materials can increase HIV/AIDS awareness, knowledge and education, motivate change, and to sustain behavior changes, she added.
Before displaying the country specific HIV/AIDS IEC materials at the workshop, the participants brainstormed their ideas and reached an understanding of the commonalities shared between each country, when responding to HIV and AIDS, such as; acceptance, understanding, participation, support, living and working together, love, care, prevention, providing information, decreasing the infection and misinformation, empowerment, freedom, rights, accessing to treatment for all, and harmony.
The participants uncovered areas which require further attention, when designing, developing and delivering IEC materials. It was also discussed which areas should be up-scaled, due to the effectiveness of such materials and what materials/ methods should be discontinued. A strong focus was taken on the IEC development process, particularly; “Who is the target audience who do the IEC materials target?”, “What is the rational behind it why are such IEC materials needed?”, “What is the key message/s and what is the desirable outcome of the IEC materials (change/action)?”, and “ What approach or tone that will be used to deliver the IEC material?”. As well as this, the unexpected impacts or negative results of IEC materials on cultural norms of each country, was also discussed. The importance of media was highlighted, as media can potentially play a key role when outreaching to the public. The meeting urged media outlets and practitioners to report news stories on HIV and AIDS and other related issues without sensationalism to avoid negative consequences.
The workshop also discussed gender and HIV and AIDS and ended with some recommendations and suggestions on how to establish both a national and regional network for IEC network and how to effectively design and develop of IEC materials and BCC programmes.

Forum to discuss world food crisis

Mr. Werner vom Busch (left), Director of Media Programme Asia of Konrad Adenauer Foundation, gives his welcoming remark at the forum. Next, Mr. Pana JANVIROY, President of the Nation newspaper of Thailand, and Dr. Sebastian PAUST, Executive Director of Asian Development Bank.

By Chhay Sophal
While the world is facing a food crisis, many countries are making attempts to address these issues. Agricultural experts and a group of senior journalists from Asia and Europe have tried to uncover effective solutions for global consumers. The discussion was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in June and reported in the Asian-European Editors’ forum. The article is titled “The World Food Crisis: Effects on Asia and Solutions”....

Dr. Sebastian PAUST, Executive Director of Asian Development Bank, said both short-term and long-term factors can cause the food prices to increase in the world. The six short-term factors, he said, are the decline of US dollars, decline of food stocks, natural disasters, conflict and political unrest in several countries that disrupted local productions, disputable short-term policy responses in key importing and exporting countries, and heavy influence of market speculation. The long-term factors are stagnation of food grain yields and slow pace of development of high-yielding, distortion of incentive for agricultural production, neglecting of rural areas and insufficiency of agricultural sector in Asian nations, demographic pressure with growing of population while agricultural land is losing, energy price is rising causing the prices of agricultural tools such as fertilizers and fuels are high, Asian people eat more and better food (more consumption), diversion of cereal use from food to alternative fuel (biofuel), and the global trade issue, he added.

Speaking to the forum, Duncan Macintosh, spokesperson of the Manila-based International Rice Research Institute, the climate change followed by drought, flooding, and salinity is the worst problem of agriculture for present and the future. He, however, suggested that Asia can increase its agricultural products and food security until it improves technology by taking into account the climate change and taking full advantage of revolutions in biology, genetics, information technology and communications.

Since early this year, the world have been in food crisis and the international food aid agencies warned to cut off or end food supply to food seekers. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) feeding nearly 89 million people, including 58.8 million children, worldwide also met difficulties and it announced to cut some food supply this year. In Cambodia, the WFP has already cut food supplies to some 450,000 Cambodian primary-school students previously received breakfast. WFP, however, confirmed in April that monthly food rations to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) households, in addition to the food support to TB patients, pregnant and lactating women and their infants under the Mother Child Health programme will continue without interruption throughout 2008. By the end of 2008, WFP expects to distribute over 5,200 metric tons of food to 70,000 PLHIV and OVC beneficiaries alone and with the recent Cambodian government’s contribution of 3,000 metric tons of rice to WFP, together with other donations will be used to target the most in need. On April 23, German government announced to provide food support with $2.25 million dollars by an additional $15 million to Cambodia through WFP. According to a press release from the German embassy in Phnom Penh on 18 June, the Food Aid is not seen by the German government as a structural support to developing partners but its contributions to WFP are made available to safeguard the needs for survival of people in need.

Dr. Kwanchai A. GOMEZ, Executive Director of the Thai Rice Foundation, said the rice sources in Asia on a path of eradication and it is not Asia’s problem anymore, but the whole world. She urged the governments to push to produce more agricultural products to meet the consumers’ needs.

Vichai SRIPRASERT, Honorable President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, and President of Riceland International Ltd in Bangkok, said high price means low sale and farmers always ask for high price but they are wrong. “If the price is too high, then only a small amount of rice is sold. If I were a farmer, I would not ask for high price of rice but I would ask for more water and more irrigation,” he said. Vichai also asserted that the current financial, fuel and commodity crisis influences the rising rice prices. .

Some 50 participants from Cambodia, Britain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Czech, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and Vietnam, attended the forum organised by German’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation on 12-15 June.

Cambodia’s Sex workers hail government’s intervention

By Chhay Sophal

On 15 February, 2008, Cambodia launched a new law on its human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The law aims at punishing all crimes against human trafficking and sexual exploitation in order to protect human rights and dignity; to improve the country’s proper customs and cultural value; and to implement the UN protocol on the issue. Article 23 of the law states that: “Prostitution” in this law shall mean having sexual intercourse with an unspecified person or other sexual conduct of all kinds in exchange for any value”.

However, entertainment workers (EW)/sex workers (SW) and AIDS activists have expressed their concerns on the legislation. “I have never heard of the sexual exploitation law and if it is real I think it is really severe for us. I agree to say that selling sex is affecting the Khmer culture and really bad for the Khmer women’s reputation but we have no choice,” said a 36-year-old direct EW in a brothel in Sihanouk Ville, the international seaport and resort. Srey Rath, a widow of four children, who has been a sex worker for about 10 years said she and her friends do not want to make their living from selling sex but they are poor and illiterate. Rath was trafficked to Thailand to be a sex worker in late 1990’s. She used to use drugs as well. “We are women. We do not want to be sex workers but the poverty and the social situation has driven us to this. The leaders should understand about our situation”.
Poverty and the lack of skills seem to be significant factors hindering the social progression for the Cambodian women who contributed to the discussion. Most of them depend financially on their husbands, some of the women expressed that their husbands had died and that this placed a significant strain on their life particularly if they had children, “I really do not want to go out and sleep with men but since my husband died I have no support. I have no skill to find a job,” said a 27-year-old widow of three kids working as a waitress in a restaurant in Sihanouk Ville. “Going out with men at night I get about US$30 and sometimes up to $100,” she said. “If the sexual law becomes into affect and the enforcement is strict, I think it is really bad for us. We do not know how to survive.”
According to the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS), it is estimated that there are 3,430 direct EWs and 13,723 indirect EWs in Cambodia. KHANA, through its implementing partners nationwide, reached 1,568 direct EWs and 4,715 indirect EWs, providing them knowledge of HIV and STD preventions last year.

Anter Nita, Director of the Sihanouk-based Community United for Development (CUD), said if the law enforcement is so strong, EW, especially the brothel-based EW will go into hiding. CUD and other organizations working on HIV and AIDS and STDs will then need to reassess the current prevention methods to reach this population, to continue to provide them with health education. “My organization helps regularly educate about 345 sex workers how to prevent themselves from HIV and AIDS and STDs transmission, how to lobby their clients who use violence for sex without using condoms, and how to find good services for their health care,” Nita said. “Our programme for 100 condoms use and HIV prevention education programmes among sex workers will be affected if sex workers are in hiding.”

According to reports from local non-governmental organisations, the local police in a few provinces have instructed owners of karaoke parlors, night clubs, and bars that they will be finned if premises contain condoms. The reports showed that since the inception of the law some brothels have closed and people are now afraid of talking openly about or displaying condoms.
“I would like to appeal that the law should drop the version of punishment sex workers otherwise we have no way to make our living. We of course do not want to be sex workers, but we have no other job to do. On the other hand, the brothel-based sex workers will become freelance sex workers who have no specific place to stay and they can not receive any education on HIV and AIDS,” Srey Rath said.

Cambodia’s Sex workers hail government’s intervention

Khema sits on the floor in a room and applies her makeup. She is a 24-year-old widow, with two kids, and became a direct entertainment worker after fell into debt
By Chhay Sophal
A few months ago, Khema had no job and no income at all, as her brothel owner in Siem Reap closed his business. This impacted Khema significantly and caused her to spiral deeper into a state of destitute. She experienced a large amount of stress as she attempted to provide her two young children and elderly mother with basic necessities, such as food.

“I am so happy that I can earn money again. About three months ago, my brothel owner closed his business because he heard from police about fines and the detention centres” said the 24-year-old widow, whose husband had another wife. With no skills and little education, Khema left her home village in Kampong Thom to be a karaoke lady and then a brothel-based entertainment/sex worker in Siem Reap town (the main town in Cambodia which attracts the most tourists).

Sitting on the floor in a room with a wooden bed at around 5 pm, Khema applies make–up to her face before opening for business. With a big smile, she expressed the rush of happiness she had when she and her colleagues in the brothel discovered that they are free from threats from law enforcers. “Our shop owner told us that we act as massagers, not prostitutes. Doing is to avoid police’s arrest. I, of course still have a fear of being arrested by the police, but I have no choice. If I do not sell myself for sex, I cannot earn money to support my children and mother who live in the village, or me.”

On 15th February, the government launched a new legislation to punish all crimes against human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The law states that the country needs to implement the UN protocol on the issue while human rights and dignity must be protected and the country’s proper customs and cultural value must be improved. Article 23 of the law states: “Prostitution” in this law shall mean having sexual intercourse with an unspecified person or other sexual conduct of all kinds in exchange for anything value”.

According to reports from local non-governmental organisations, local police (in a few provinces) have instructed owners of karaoke parlors, night clubs, and bars that they will be finned if premises contain condoms. The reports showed that since the inception of the law some brothels have closed and people are now afraid of talking openly about, or displaying condoms. The reports also included that during some of the brothel crackdowns direct and indirect entertainment workers are becoming victims of sexual abuse and robbery, whilst in police custody. Choeun Sinoeun, Programme Manager of Men’s Health Cambodia, a local NGO based in Siem Reap, said since the announcement of the new law, several brothels have converted to massage and karaoke parlors but sex is still offered. However, he said, it is difficult for his organisation to reach entertainment workers; to provide them education on healthcare, especially on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention. “Direct entertainment workers do not want to show up due to their fear of being arrested by the police and being detained,” he said. With support from KHANA, he said, his organization reaches 20 direct entertainment workers and 1,100 indirect entertainment workers in Siem Reap; to provide them with HIV/AIDS and STI education and prevention via the promotion of the 100% condom use programme (Cambodia’s nationally commended strategy).

On 4th June, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng explained the legal action that would be taken against officials accused of sexually abusing or robbing entertainment workers, who have been taken into custody during brothel crackdowns. His comment was made one day after hundreds of entertainment workers held a rally to protest the new law. Some protesters accused police and other law enforcers of poorly implementing the law. Furthermore some protesters spoke about the physical abuse, gang rape, and robbery that had been witnessed during some of these raids. Sar Kheng said the government, especially the Ministry of Interior, will take legal action against any official who is accused of such incidences. However, evidence must be provided by the victims before action can be taken.
A commitment to improving the protection of direct and indirect entertainment workers is good news for Kema and other entertainment workers nationwide. “I am really happy to hear this and I hope that police will not abuse and rob us,” she said. Khema, a single mother of two kids, decided to be a direct sex to deal with her debt with high interest in the village. “I have no money to pay back to my debtor. With no choice, I have to be a sex worker. I know such business is affecting to the Khmer culture and my reputation as well. But if I do not take this business, I do not know how my family and I can survive,” she added.

According to the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS), it is estimated that there are 3,430 direct entertainment workers and 13,723 indirect entertainment workers in Cambodia. KHANA, through its implementing partners nationwide, reached 1,568 direct entertainment workers and 4,715 indirect entertainment workers by providing them with education of HIV/AIDS and STD preventions, last year.

Many Cambodian women depend financially on their husbands. Some of them, expressed that if they became widows, they will be burdened, their families would suffer tremendously, poverty would increase and their literacy levels would plateau. “As I am a poor widow who has very little education, I do not know what to do to make money. When my kids were sick, I borrowed some money from my neighbours but I had no money to pay them back and the interest become higher and higher,” Khema said.

“I want to appeal to the government to help develop the rural areas, provide jobs and vocational training and skills to women, and to provide opportunities to girls to attend school to reach a higher education, so that they can have a good future and will be able to avoid the work I am doing.”

Cambodia’s sex workers and AIDS activists express concerns on the country’s new law

By Chhay Sophal

On 15 February, 2008, Cambodia launched a new law on its human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The law aims at punishing all crimes against human trafficking and sexual exploitation in order to protect human rights and dignity; to improve the country’s proper customs and cultural value; and to implement the UN protocol on the issue. Article 23 of the law states that: “Prostitution” in this law shall mean having sexual intercourse with an unspecified person or other sexual conduct of all kinds in exchange for any value”.

However, entertainment workers (EW)/sex workers (SW) and AIDS activists have expressed their concerns on the legislation. “I have never heard of the sexual exploitation law and if it is real I think it is really severe for us. I agree to say that selling sex is affecting the Khmer culture and really bad for the Khmer women’s reputation but we have no choice,” said a 36-year-old direct EW in a brothel in Sihanouk Ville, the international seaport and resort. Srey Rath, a widow of four children, who has been a sex worker for about 10 years said she and her friends do not want to make their living from selling sex but they are poor and illiterate. Rath was trafficked to Thailand to be a sex worker in late 1990’s. She used to use drugs as well. “We are women. We do not want to be sex workers but the poverty and the social situation has driven us to this. The leaders should understand about our situation”.
Poverty and the lack of skills seem to be significant factors hindering the social progression for the Cambodian women who contributed to the discussion. Most of them depend financially on their husbands, some of the women expressed that their husbands had died and that this placed a significant strain on their life particularly if they had children, “I really do not want to go out and sleep with men but since my husband died I have no support. I have no skill to find a job,” said a 27-year-old widow of three kids working as a waitress in a restaurant in Sihanouk Ville. “Going out with men at night I get about US$30 and sometimes up to $100,” she said. “If the sexual law becomes into affect and the enforcement is strict, I think it is really bad for us. We do not know how to survive.”
According to the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS), it is estimated that there are 3,430 direct EWs and 13,723 indirect EWs in Cambodia. KHANA, through its implementing partners nationwide, reached 1,568 direct EWs and 4,715 indirect EWs, providing them knowledge of HIV and STD preventions last year.

Anter Nita, Director of the Sihanouk-based Community United for Development (CUD), said if the law enforcement is so strong, EW, especially the brothel-based EW will go into hiding. CUD and other organizations working on HIV and AIDS and STDs will then need to reassess the current prevention methods to reach this population, to continue to provide them with health education. “My organization helps regularly educate about 345 sex workers how to prevent themselves from HIV and AIDS and STDs transmission, how to lobby their clients who use violence for sex without using condoms, and how to find good services for their health care,” Nita said. “Our programme for 100 condoms use and HIV prevention education programmes among sex workers will be affected if sex workers are in hiding.”

According to reports from local non-governmental organisations, the local police in a few provinces have instructed owners of karaoke parlors, night clubs, and bars that they will be finned if premises contain condoms. The reports showed that since the inception of the law some brothels have closed and people are now afraid of talking openly about or displaying condoms.
“I would like to appeal that the law should drop the version of punishment sex workers otherwise we have no way to make our living. We of course do not want to be sex workers, but we have no other job to do. On the other hand, the brothel-based sex workers will become freelance sex workers who have no specific place to stay and they can not receive any education on HIV and AIDS,” Srey Rath said.

Stigma takes centre stage at AIDS Conference in Mexico

By Chhay Sophal

Standing up for the rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and other vulnerable people remains at the forefront for HIV/AIDS activists around the world. Stigma and discrimination were critical issues discussed at the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City on 3-8 August, 2008. Although HIV/AIDS activists and policymakers have worked hard to sensitize the public and debunk inaccuracies about the virus, many PLHIV still face hardships even beyond their disease.

“In most countries, stigma against people living with HIV remains a grave challenge. One third of countries still do not have laws to protect people living with HIV…This must change,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his address at the opening session of the Conference on 3 August.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General focused largely on issues of stigma and discrimination, as he called on politicians around the world to “speak out against discrimination and protect the rights of people living with and affected by HIV, for schools to teach respect, for religious leaders to preach tolerance, and for the media to condemn prejudice in all its forms”. Mr. Ban who has met with his colleagues in the fight against HIV/AIDS as well as people living with HIV since taking his post as the UN Secretary General, also urged all nations to “live up to their commitments to enact or enforce legislation outlawing discrimination against people living with HIV and members of vulnerable groups.”

Expounding on this appeal, Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said the world must work harder to reduce such common challenge. “We must work much harder to fight stigma and discrimination, including institutionalized discrimination. In many countries, legal as well as social and cultural barriers prevent groups at risk from receiving the interventions and knowledge needed to reduce harmful behaviour, Dr Margaret said.

Dr. Pedro Cahn, the AIDS 2008 Conference Co-Chair, added that “along with many of you here, we have raised our voice against stigma and discrimination, denouncing social inequity as a major driving force of this human tragedy and speaking on behalf of thousands of HIV professionals from around the world”.

As the conference co-chair and International AIDS Society Governing Council Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr. Luis-Soto Ramirez, said in his opening session that stigma and discrimination “continue to hamper our progress against this disease.”

The world leaders also applauded the decision by United States Congress to re-authorize PEPFAR with 39 billion dollars for AIDS, an initiative signed into law by President G W Bush on 30 July. They also welcomed the news the United States has lifted its 20-year law banning PLHIV from entry into the United States.
At the end of the conference, on 8 August, delegates also called for the removal of laws that criminalize and stigmatize groups at risk for HIV. The New York Times quoted Edwin Cameron, a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals in South Africa, as saying that “criminalization is a poor tool for regulating H.I.V. infection and transmission.” According to the Times, Justice Cameron, who is living with HIV, said “let one of the conference outcomes be a major international push-back against misguided criminal laws and prosecutions.”

In an op-ed article in the Washington Times on 6 August, the UN Secretary General also said “Stigma remains the single most important barrier to public action. It is the main reason too many people are afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the disease, or to seek treatment.” Stigma, he said, is a chief reason the AIDS epidemic, the silent killer, continues to devastate societies around the world.

G8 leaders get pressure on responding to AIDS

By Chhay Sophal

At the end of the 17th International AIDS Conference on 3-8 August in Mexico City, G8 industrialised nations are urged to more actively commit to responding to AIDS, the world silent killer.

Michel Kazatchkine, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, said at the close of the six-day conference that the world “should be deeply concerned that with less than two years to go before our deadline for universal access, the G8 has committed little more than a third of the resources that it has promised to deliver by 2010."

In his closing session remarks, Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver, Canada, and the new President of the International AIDS Society, said though there is “tremendous commitment” on the part of the United States, which has contributed $48 billions towards responding to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, such responsibility cannot lie solely on the Americans’ shoulders. “The world must follow their example. Ultimately, if George W Bush got it, the rest of the G8 leaders should get it!” he said. Dr. Montaner also called upon the Canadian Prime Minister Hon. Stephen Harper to join the rest of the G8 leaders “to match President Bush’s contribution, now! …We must keep the pressure on the G8 leaders to follow up on their commitment to achieve universal access to prevention, care and treatment by 2010.”

Addressing the opening session of the conference on 3 August, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that more funding is needed in the next decades to fight against AIDS. “As the fight against AIDS nears the end of its third decade, we are still facing a huge shortfall in resources. The responses to HIV and AIDS require long-term and sustained financing,” he said. “As more people go on treatment and live longer, budgets will have to increase considerably over the next few decades. In the most affected countries, donors will have to provide the majority of the funding.” Mr. Ban also promised that he would work to “mobilize funding and to ensure that AIDS will remains a system-wide priority for the United Nations. You can count on me.”

In 2005, the G8 nations set a goal of providing HIV treatment to all who needed it by 2010. The G8 nations comprise Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and Russia.

World need “Combination” in responding to AIDS

By Chhay Sophal

At the mass gathering of the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico in early August, world leaders were urged to create a global “combination” to combat a common crisis, AIDS.

Speaking in his closing session remarks, Dr. Julio Montaner, the President of the International AIDS Society, said the key word emerging from the conference was “combination”. Dr Montaner said that five combinations are very important to tackle the crisis: combination of prevention strategies tailored to decrease HIV transmission; of antiretroviral therapy to dramatically reduce morbidity and mortality among those infected; of antiretroviral therapy to reduce community viral load as an aid to HIV prevention; of strategies to enhance HIV testing; and of strategies to reduce poverty and discrimination.

Dr Montaner added that although the number of people dying of AIDS is down to two million people in 2007, from 2.2 million in 2005, it is “still 2 million too many!”

UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said that the world must never forget that the epidemic could return with new surprises. “Combination prevention is very important. Combination prevention means finding the right mix of activities for each local epidemic. Combination prevention also involves mobilizing for social change – no more stigma around HIV,” he said. “We’ve got a mind of our own! Broadening the coalition must not come at the expense of the non-negotiables of working across sectors, involving civil society and of people living with HIV, grounding our action in science, rooting all we do in human rights, and focusing on results for people.”

Sharing his thoughts during closing session remarks, Dr. Pedro Cahn, the Conference Co-Chair, said it is now time for world leaders, scientists and community members to keep their commitments on track. “On your way back home be reminded that you can make a difference. People living with HIV and AIDS and millions more at risk need you to do your part of universal action now,” he said.

Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said that a “commitment to universal access” is an expression of respect for the value of each and every life affected by the disease and that it is a “monumental achievement”. He added, however, said the epidemic is not over. “We are in this for the long haul…. The pursuit of equity, social justice, and universal access is its driving force. This is an inclusive approach that encourages community participation and ownership, including ownership by people living with HIV,” he said.

What is the International AIDS Conference?

35-year-old HIV-positive widow, Makara, prepares snooker ball for her young clients at her home. Makara says she never knows about the17th international AIDS conference in Mexico.

By Chhay Sophal

While thousands of world leaders, policymakers, AIDS activists, and People Living with HIV (PLHIV) have met during the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico on 3-8 August, Cambodian PLHIV know little about it. “I am really unaware of the conference so I do not know what they talk about. Did they find an HIV vaccine?” asked Makara, 35-year-old widow who is living with HIV.

Living in Sihanouk Ville, an international seaport and resort town in the southwest of the country, Makara often sees on reports on HIV and AIDS on television and in the newspaper, but she has not seen any reports on the AIDS conference in Mexico. “I very often watch TV but I never saw a report on the conference,” she said.

Several PLHIV and AIDS peer educators interviewed also said that they did not know about the global event. “I listen to radio but I never heard the news on the conference,” said another HIV-positive widow, 38.

Speaking in his closing session remarks at the 6-day AIDS Conference, Dr. Julio Montaner, the President of the International AIDS Society, said the conference organisers sponsored over 2500 delegates from 95 countries. He said the organisers are in a “debt to the members of the media who joined us in Mexico. They have worked tirelessly to cover all aspects of the conference. Their work represents a fundamental piece of the puzzle, as it provides effective and timely knowledge translation of our proceedings.”

However, no Cambodian journalists were invited to cover news at the conference, although several governmental and non-governmental organisations representatives attended. Mr. Pen Samtthy, the Editor-in-Chief of the country’s leading newspaper, Rasmei Kampuchea or Light of Cambodia, said he was also surprised that no journalists from Cambodia were invited. Mr. Samitthy who is also President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists, whose members number nearly two hundred journalists, said that he wished his colleagues had attended the Conference to cover the developments and the stories behind it.
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Chinda (right), a 38-year-old widow living with HIV, sells banana at her home to her neighbouring kid while being interviewed by Chhay Sophal. Chinda says she is unaware of the17th international AIDS conference in Mexico.

No ARV no life for PLHIV

By Chhay Sophal

Holding an Anti Retro-Viral (ARV) pill in her hand, 8-year-old Cambodian Heang Sok Heng, whose mother and younger sister died of disease related to AIDS in several years ago says “my grandmother gives me to take it everyday”. Living with her grandmother, Heang Sok Heng was diagnosed as HIV-positive when she was one year old. “She cannot live without ARV. If she does not have it, she will die and leave me alone,” says Chhoeu Voeun, Heang Sok Heng’s 58-year-old grandmother.

The young girl takes ARV twice a day -- in the morning before going to school and before going to bed – while Opportunistic Infection preventatives are taken at lunchtime. “Without these medicines, my granddaughter cannot survive,” said Chhoeu Voeun bursting into tears. “ARV has given my granddaughter a second chance at life, she cannot live without it.”

Heang Sok Heng is one of tens of thousands of Cambodian People Living with HIV (PLHIV). Although the country’s HIV infection rate has dropped from 1.2% in 2003 to 0.9% in 2006, the prevalence amongst married women infected by their husbands is still high, while one third of new infections result from transmission from mothers to children.

An official from the National AIDS Authority (NAA) said ARV will remain in high demand for at least the next two years. “Some 18,300 women and 17,000 men will need ARV between 2008 and 2010,” said Dr. Hor Bun Leng, NAA Deputy Secretary General. He estimated that an HIV-positive person could spend about US$1,000 each per year for ARV. Dr. Bun Leng also warned that the epidemic can return if the country is reluctant to take steps for additional prevention. Vulnerable groups such as people aged 15-49 years mobile populations, sex workers, men who have sex with men, drug users and married women are at high risk and the high mortality rate from AIDS has resulted in many orphans and widows, he added.

This situation is replicated across the world. The efforts of researchers and medical workers, who work together to produce and deliver ARV, are saving the lives of those with HIV/AIDS. “Three million people on antiretroviral therapy worldwide is not just the greatest public health achievement of the new century, it is a tribute to all of you who have fought so hard to understand HIV and to make available the drugs that are saving these lives,” Festus G. Mogae, former president of the republic of Botswana, said in his opening remarks on August 3 at 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. Mogae also said he salutes and acknowledges “the leading role of pharmaceutical companies of the world who are often maligned.”

Speaking in his opening speech at the conference, UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot, also urged scientists and funders to continue their efforts to develop an HIV vaccine allow more people to access ARV. “In the long run the best way to stop people dying from AIDS is to reduce new infections in the first place. But in the meantime, the treatment imperative remains as strong as ever, because let’s never forget that this is about people. Because this is about entitlement to life,” he said. “One of the main lessons of providing antiretroviral therapy to millions of people is that we should not wait until systems are fixed before acting, because I know what would have happened to the 3 million people on ART today if we had waited: most would be dead by now.”

In his opening session speech at the conference, Dr. Luis-Soto Ramirez, the Conference Co-Chair and International AIDS Society Governing Council Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, said several countries in the region have challenged the idea that treatment could only be accessible to “the lucky few who had the money to pay for antiretroviral drugs,” and are fighting hard to lower drug prices to bridge the gap between north and south. “It is time to bring drugs to everyone in need, regardless of who they are, where they live, or how much they earn. It is time for Universal Action NOW,” he said.

In his closing session remarks, Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver, Canada, and the new President of the International AIDS Society, said though the number of children infected with HIV/AIDS fell from 410,000 in 2005 to 370,000 in 2007, this was hardly a victory,…”

If the appeals of the leaders and delegates at the conference are realised, there will be good news for Heang Sok Heng and PLHIV across the world. “I am really happy if all PLHIV can get regularly enough ARV with free of charge. We do not fear any more,” said Heang Sok Heng’s grandmother. “I would like to call on the world doctors to produce more ARV for PLHIV and find HIV vaccine so that my granddaughter and other people living with AIDS can live longer.”

Journalists & Corruption Issue

Jim Clancy (left), CNN International Anchor, and Cambodian
journalist Chhay Sophal in Bali, Indonesia in January 2008.

By Chhay Sophal

Bali, Indonesia: As media is powerful to join to the world governments, civil society, and private sector for fighting against corruption, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOCD) brought a group of journalists from several least developing nations to participate in a media forum to discuss their role and responsibility to tackle the issue. The forum held on 31st January in Bali, Indonesia, aimed to raise journalists’ awareness of their role and responsibility and how to deal with challenges for news covering on corruption.

Speaking at the forum, Simon Derry, Director of BBC World Service Trust, said that corruption is mostly dealing with politicians, businesspeople, and the powerful and that the role of journalists must know how to involve ordinary people and how to persuade them and other civil society to talk about the issue. Mobilizing ideas and pubic opinion, he said, is also part of the process to best share in the society. However, he said, ethic is the back bone of journalists for doing their job.

Based on the answers collected by Simon from only 20 journalists of different countries, the key corruption is amongst government (16), private sector (1), individual (2), impunity (1), drug trafficking (1). Although most of the respondents say their media organizations support investigative journalism, they say intimidation, safety & security, and probably killing are the main concerns for covering corruption stories.

In his session on “Investigative Journalism and the Role of the Media in the Anti-Corruption Debate”, Jim Clancy -- CNN International Anchor – said journalists must keep communications open, keep doing, keep documenting, and keep networking by involving as many people as possible in civil society and interest groups, lawmakers and ministries, legal community and judges, business community, international partners, and fellow journalists. He also recommended that journalists must be careful with lying sources and try to push the source on the record and think about fairness and balance without bias.

Hon. John G. William, Chairman of the Global Organisation of the Parliamentarians against Corruption, said small groups of powerful people and the dictators in the world do not want journalists’ true information. They threaten, he said, and lock up journalists and try to control everything under the sun because their accountability is beyond control. William said accountability of democratic countries is based on the top-down rights in which people is first and then civil society and independent media, parliament, and government. But in some dictatorial nations, he stressed, they put rights upside down in which the government is first and then cabinet, bureaucracy, and people.

The forum was part of the UN Anti-Corruption Convention held on 28th January-1st February, 2008 and it was supported by DFID, IPI, UNDP, and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An adoption was made at the end of the forum to recognize journalists’ difficulties in many countries and in the spirit of their solidarity.

Global combating trillions of dollars looting each year

View in the conference hall in Bali, Indonesia, in January 2008.

By Chhay Sophal

Bali, Indonesia: Recognizing corruption as a cancer and a communicable disease in each society, the world leaders, policy makers, stakeholders of both government and the civil society, film producers, movie stars, musicians, and singers, including media people, from more than 100 nations gathered in Bali, Indonesia, for the “United Nations Convention against Corruption” to find out an effective way to treat the chronic disease. A group of Cambodian delegates from government and civil society also attended the five days event, held between 28 January-1 February 2008.

A joint report from the United Nations and the World Bank (WB) said corruption and tax evasion are estimated to total $1 trillion to $1.6 trillion a year and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says this ‘disease’ cannot be eradicated unless a concerted campaign is waged by all people in every society. "Corruption hurts us all, therefore fighting it is a shared responsibility - we all have a duty and the power to say 'no' to corruption," said Antonio Maria Costa, UNODC Executive Director, at his opening ceremony.

The UNODC and the WB on September 17 2007 announced a broad new effort called “Stolen Asset Recovery”/StAR Initiative to help developing nations build capacity to recover billions of dollars of looted funds. According to the WB, it is estimated that developing countries lose US$20-40 billion each year through corruption and money laundering. Every US$100 million of stolen assets returned to a developing country could fund immunization for 4 million children, water connections for 250,000 households and malaria-treatment for 50-100 million people.

In her remark at the conference, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WB Managing Director, says all delegates in the UN Convention for Anti-Corruption in Bali should take collective action against corruption and that the developing countries are the victim-states of corruption and forced to comply with developed world’s standards for transparency, accountability and good governance. However, she added, corruption in these nations is “also the result of an enabling and permissive global environment”. Dr. Ngozi urged all countries to be responsible for this environment, particularly those with greater economic and political leverage.

Article 13 of the UN Convention Against Corruption states that “Each state party shall take appropriate measures to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations, in the prevention and fight against corruption.”

During the conference, representatives from dozens of nations presented their respective governments’ commitment to combat corruption -- harming society, undermining democracy, and weakening the rule of law. The state representatives also shared their experiences, and lessons learned, and sought technical assistance to take the stolen assets back from the corrupt. While corruption in some countries is out of control, the delegates also urged for collaboration by setting up working groups with technical assistance to help each other fight the common enemy.