On My Own: The Exploitation of Street-involved Children on the Rapidly Changing Thai-Cambodian Border

Authors: Jarrett Davis, Glenn Miles
Publication: Journal of Human Trafficking, Enslavement and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Year: 2021
Category: Child Exploitation, Human Trafficking

Abstract

This research draws on primary data collected from 80 street-involved Cambodian children living and/or working along the Thai-Cambodian border area of Poipet and Aranyaprathet and offers an initial analysis of their key experiences, perspectives, and vulnerabilities. The data shows that children who crossed the border work demonstrated a heightened risk to physical and sexual violence. Gender was also found to be a considerable risk factor for street-involved children, with boys twice as likely as girls to disclose experiences of physical violence, and four-times as likely to disclose experiences of sexual violence. Despite this, neither males nor females perceived sexual violence as a danger for males.

Keywords

• Street-involved children
• Thai-Cambodian border
• Sexual exploitation
• Gender differences
• Substance use
• Post-conflict vulnerabilities

Key Findings

• Children who crossed the border for work were 2.1 times more likely to report physical violence and 4.1 times more likely to report being hurt or threatened by a weapon compared to those who worked only on the Cambodian side.
• Boys showed disproportionately higher rates of physical and sexual violence, were more likely to be engaged in street work, crossed the border more frequently, and were more likely to do so without adult supervision.
• Substance use was strongly correlated with experiences of violence, with 95% of drug-using children citing instances of physical violence compared to 54% among non-users.
• Despite higher rates of sexual violence among boys, both boys and girls perceived girls to be more vulnerable to sexual violence, indicating a disconnect between perception and reality.

Methodology

The study employed both purposive and chain-referral sampling methodologies to conduct 80 semi-structured interviews with Cambodian street-involved children (67.5% male and 32.5% female) along the Thai-Cambodian border in Poipet, Cambodia. Data was collected in 2016 by social workers from local organizations. The research instrument included multiple-choice and open-ended questions covering various topics including life context, experiences of street-involved children, migration to Thailand, substance use, and experiences of violence.

Implications

The research highlights the need for:

• Greater collaboration between Cambodian law enforcement and child protection agents to ensure safe detention and humane return of children apprehended in Thailand.
• Development of strong local educational resources normalizing the vulnerability of boys and young men, as well as gender-inclusive resources for parents, teachers, and support workers.
• Implementation of a Temporary Migrant Worker Scheme to allow migrant workers to undertake short-term documented occupations.
• Improved support services and interventions addressing online sexual exploitation, particularly for male and SOGIE-diverse victims.
• Further research on the experiences of Cambodian children arrested and detained in Thailand, and on children left behind by migrating parents.

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Citation

Davis, J., & Miles, G. (2021). On My Own: The Exploitation of Street-involved Children on the Rapidly Changing Thai-Cambodian Border. Journal of Human Trafficking, Enslavement and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, 2(2).

Last Updated: July 2021