On July 21, the Siem Reap branch of the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC), in collaboration with the provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sport, held an event to raise awareness about “online child exploitation”.

The event was attended by youths from CRC programmes and from the National Association of Cambodian Scouts (NACS), Youth Council and 145 students at Hun Sen Siem Reap High School.

The CRC’s work in the province raising awareness of the dangers to children online is also supported by the People's Action for Inclusive Development (PAfID) and is aimed at providing knowledge to students, youths and the people in the community to help prevent child exploitation in all forms as well as to create participation opportunities for children that encourage their social development free from abuse or fear.

The CRC said that in the modern digital age, youths use technology and the internet constantly for studying, entertainment and to communicate and socialize with peers, but the amount of time that the younger generations spend online leaves them more susceptible to exploitation and abuse that can easily remain hidden from the adults in their lives who can help them, such as parents or teachers, if they don’t learn to speak out about it when they encounter trouble.