CLEC Press Release: Seven Years of Suffering The Story of a Former Cambodian Maid

Press Release

Phat Sokleang Has Returned Home but

Cambodian Domestic Workers Still Need Help

Phnom Penh – September 06, 2012

On behalf of her family, we would like to express our sincerest thanks to all individuals, media and authorities who assisted in bringing Phat Sokleang back to her family. Sokleang left her home on the morning of Monday, August 27, 2012 and disappeared for two days. She was found in Tuol Krosang Pagoda, located in Sen Sok District, Phnom Penh on Wednesday afternoon, August 29, 2012. Sokleang is now at home safely in Kampong Siem District, Kampong Cham Province.

As a victim of labor trafficking, Sokleang is not in a proper mental state. She was a normal girl before working as a maid in Malaysia in 2005. Sokleang was 15 years old when she was recruited for domestic work. After only 4 months of employment she returned to Cambodia with horrific mental trauma that has ruled her life for the last 7 years. Barely able to speak or eat and refusing to wear clothes she was tied to her family home for her own safety. After locating her in 2011, CLEC has been helping her family to provide proper medical treatment and rehabilitation. 7 years on, she is receiving treatment from psychological doctors. Sokleang was only one of an estimated 50,000 Cambodian maids in Malaysia.

To see her story and her progress please visit: http://youtu.be/f_0EKgodP5c

For more information please contact:

Mr. Tola Moeun, Head of CLEC Labor Program

Tel: (855) 66 777 056

Email: tola@clec.org.kh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_0EKgodP5c