News Conference - Abuses of Sex Workers in Cambodia

*** News Conference Invitation ***

Off the Streets
Arbitrary Detention and Other Abuses Against Sex Workers in Cambodia

Human Rights Watch is pleased to invite you to the launch of a new report, "Off the Streets: Arbitrary Detention and Other Abuses against Sex Workers in Cambodia," to be held on July 20, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. The report documents the abuse of sex workers by police and other government officials, including beatings, rape, extortion, and arbitrary arrest and detention. The report also analyzes the impact of a 2008 law on trafficking and sexual exploitation, and urges the Cambodian government to end impunity by holding the perpetrators of these abuses accountable.

What: Release of the Human Rights Watch Report*:
"Off the Streets: Arbitrary Detention and Other Abuses against Sex Workers in Cambodia"

Who: Elaine Pearson, acting Asia director, Human Rights Watch
Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director, Human Rights Watch

When: July 20, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

Where: Baitong Restaurant
No. 7, Street 360
Boeng Keng Kang 1,
Phnom Penh

* The news conference will be held in English and Khmer.

For more on Human Rights Watch’s work on Cambodia, please visit:
http://www.hrw.org/en/asia/cambodia

For more information and to schedule interviews, please contact:

• In Phnom Penh, Elaine Pearson (English): +855-77-788-320 (mobile); or elaine.pearson@hrw.org
• In Phnom Penh, Sara Colm (English, Khmer): +855-12-804-755 (mobile); or sara.colm@hrw.org
• In Bangkok, Phil Robertson (English, Thai): +66-85-060-8406 (mobile); or phil.robertson@hrw.org

Note to journalists: The full report is embargoed until after the news conference. Copies of the entire report in English, and the summary and recommendations in Khmer, will be available at the news conference.