PHNOM PENH – Japan has announced that it will support the construction of a shelter for women victims of human trafficking and staff accommodation buildings, at the Kandal Steung Transit and Rehabilitation Center, to the tune of over $100,000.
A $140,781 grant agreement was signed on December 16 by Japanese ambassador Ueno Atsushi and Chea Somethy, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, under the umbrella of Japan’s “Kusanone” Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.
According to the Japanese Embassy, the funding will be used to construct a shelter for women victims of human trafficking and to build staff accommodation at the centre. The new facilities will help ensure safety and protection for victims, while also enabling staff to provide appropriate care and support services.
“This project will help support victims in various vulnerable conditions — both physical and psychological — so they can return to their normal daily lives,” said the ambassador.
He expressed satisfaction at observing Cambodia’s rapid development in recent years, but also acknowledged that challenges remain and need to be addressed to improve the quality of life of the population. Japan, he said, will continue to contribute to addressing these challenges through various Official Development Assistance (ODA) schemes, including the Kusanone programme.
The programme was launched in Cambodia in 1991 to support Cambodia’s efforts in development and national reconstruction at the grassroots level. This grant assistance aims to protect vulnerable people from factors such as poverty and other hardships that may directly threaten their lives, livelihoods and dignity, while also promoting community self-reliance.
AloJapan.com