Organisational background and capacity

CARAM Cambodia was set up as a local non-governmental organisation in 2000. Previously, CARE Cambodia had been the host of the project and the implementing partner from 1997 to 1999. At the time, there were five full time staff members and two major projects: 1) Research with Vietnamese Indirect Sex Workers and 2) Pre-departure Training for Migrant Workers. Upon the establishment of Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility (CARAM Cambodia) as a local NGO, CARE's former staff working on the project, were transferred to CARAM Cambodia.

Presently, CARAM Cambodia has four projects 1) Community Based Prevention, Care and Rights 2) Pre-departure and Post-returnees 3) National Advocacy and Production of Relevant Materials and 4) Regional Projects. The programs primarily works with Cambodian and Vietnamese migrant sex workers and Cambodian migrant workers who are prepared to work abroad (destination countries-Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and others). In the past nine years working in migration, health and migrant worker rights as well as human trafficking issues, CARAM Cambodia has safely repatriated over 187 victims of trafficking and labour exploitation from 2000 to 2006, and reintegrated them into society through the provision of referral service for them to gain vocational skills. CARAM Cambodia provided referral service in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, Ministry of Social Affairs and Veterans, local and international NGOs such as International Organization for Migration (IOM), CARAM Asia, and other concerned institutions. In 2007, CARAM Cambodia has coordinated repatriation of over 61 Cambodian trafficked victims from Indonesia and coordinated in addressing 4 labour exploitation cases in cooperation with the Cambodian Embassy to Indonesia and Malaysia as well as CARAM Asia’s Indonesian and Malaysian partners.

Social Mapping

CARAM Cambodia is a member of CARAM Asia with its regional secretariat in Malaysia and NGO partners over fifteen countries including Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Japan. In 2007, CARAM Cambodia is admitted to be an observation member of Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) which is based in the Philippines. 

In Cambodia, due to its mandate focusing on health, migration, human rights and human trafficking issues, CARAM Cambodia has been admitted to be a member of Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC). CHRAC has over 23 membership organisations. CARAM Cambodia has also been elected as a vice-chair of HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (HACC)’s Steering Committee. HACC has over 90 membership organisations.

Round Table Discussion

CARAM Cambodia is recognised for its achievements, especially in the area of:

1. safe repatriation assistance coordination of trafficked victims and in their reintegration assistance coordination to NGO partners

2. addressing labour exploitation cases on migrant workers who were posted to work in destination countries

3. advocating Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MoLVT) to issue PRAKAS on pre-departure training and post return program for migrant workers who are prepared for working abroad.

IMD 2006

In December 2006, CARAM Cambodia took a lead in Migrant NGO Network (MNN) and other concerned NGOs and institutions in organising International Migrants' Day (IMD). IMD 2006 was celebrated with over 1,000 people from licensed recruiting agencies, local, international NGOs and UN bodies.

Pre-departure Training

Organisational vision

CARAM Cambodia envisions that "all people have the rights to stay or move and live and work in dignity with equal rights in society where their quality of life is ensured".

Migrants visit Safe Migrants Center

Organisational mission

• The empowerment of migrants, their families and communities in the migration process for the promotion and protection of human rights, including health, reproductive and sexual rights.

• The production of knowledge using participatory action research on vulnerability, health status and potential of migrant workers for planning and implementing appropriate and effective regional interventions and advocacy work.

• The mainstreaming of migration and HIV/AIDS from the migrant perspective as specific areas of intervention in policy and program development.

• Advocacy for improvement of quality of life for migrant workers including proper and equal access to health care and services.

• Promotion of gender equality and justice.