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.”
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