It is not very hard for misconceptions and myths — such as ideas about child sexual abuse — to spread through a society and are often entrenched into a community’s understanding of the issue. This misinformation process is acute when talking about boys who have faced abuse, with little to no discussion on how sexual abuse affects Cambodia's boys.
These myths can take many forms: boys are rarely abused, they can recover faster from the trauma and there is little effect on their honor or reputation in the community. The prevailing consensus on these issues is often incorrect and damaging in Cambodian society and they get supercharged when spread across social media.
Groups like First Step Cambodia are one of the only non-governmental organizations working to support boys who are abused, increase awareness among communities and put in place interventions that can shield boys from abuse.
Vann Sambor is a member of the district training and monitoring training team in Siem Reap province, in northern Cambodia. As a district education officer, she oversees 25 kindergartens in the district with around 625 children.
Having participated in workshops conducted by First Step Cambodia, Sambor says understanding the abuse of boys and how it can affect them is critical for teachers and parents alike.
“In the past, I had never heard of sexual abuse of boys until I attended this workshop. The media often writes and broadcasts issues of sexual abuse of girls, not boys,” she says.
Sambor says the training helped change her perceptions about the sexual abuse of boys and its prevalence and effect on Cambodia's boys.
“Often, we think that boys are tough and can’t be sexually abused, but this is not true. They can be sexually abused and need support,” Sambor says.
Apart from working on increasing awareness about the abuse of boys, First Step Cambodia also has social workers who work with children by providing counseling and resources to improve their safety and ensure they have a supportive home and community.
This article is an excerpt from "Profiles of Courage." Click here to download PDF