Consoling Through Counseling (CTC)

Gender-based violence is a large-scale problem in Cambodia. Widespread sex trafficking and a high incidence of rape shatter the lives of many Cambodian girls. Cambodia is a very traditional society so girls are expected to remain chaste until they marry. As a result, young victims of rape and sex trafficking carry the added burden of feeling they have shamed their families. In addition, females are widely considered to be less valuable than males and thus victims of sexual exploitation and violence are often blamed for inviting these crimes. As a consequence, most rape and sexual abuse cases go unreported. In some rape cases—according to local tradition and custom—the perpetrator will be forced to pay compensation while in other cases, rapists will be made to marry their victims. Justice may be elusive, but counseling support shouldn’t be.

That is why Lotus Outreach works with local partners to deliver the very best counseling available in this under-resourced part of the world. Through support of the CTC program, Lotus Outreach gives victims of sexual abuse the opportunity to participate in individual and group counseling for up to one year. By focusing therapeutic efforts on trauma, stigma, guilt and family relations, these young women have a chance to reclaim their dignity, self-worth and overall mental health. Programs that supply professional counseling for victims of sex crimes are known to reduce related concerns like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction and suicide. From one year to the next, our small team of qualified Cambodian professionals provides hundreds of girls and women with individual and group counseling.

Partner: Cambodian Women`s Crisis Center