 Who We AreAction Pour Les Enfants (APLE) is a not-for-profit, non-religious, non-governmental child rights organization dedicated to combating the sexual abuse of children by taking investigative, legal and rehabilitative course of action. APLE aims at reducing the risk and incident of sexual abuse and exploitation of children by improving impunity of abuse and building the capacity of everyone to protect children.
What We Do
In collaboration with the Cambodian law enforcement and judicial officials, APLE seeks to bring sex offenders to legal account and secure justice for the victims. APLE primarily focuses on the street-based sexual exploitation perpetrated by sexual predators that travel and/or live in Cambodia to prey on children and engage them in sexual activities. APLE also coordinates its work comprehensively with foreign law enforcement agencies to promote prosecution back home.
Our lawyers provide pro bono legal advice, assistance and representation to the children and their families, whilst the social workers partner with other charity organizations to grant impartial access to a temporary safe residence, counselling, recovery, education and support. The social services also extend to support the rehabilitation and reintegration process.
APLE further contributes to the global efforts to minimize the causes and effects of sexual abuse and exploitation of children by providing information, awareness, understanding and strategies for the prevention, protection, suppression as well as rehabilitation work.
Over many years, the organization has emerged as a truly progressive non-law enforcement group that wins the trust of the local and foreign governments, civil societies, individuals and counterparts in investigating a suspicious incident of the sexual crimes against children.
Where We Work
The aftermath of Cambodia’s brutal and bloody past continues to haunt the Southeast Asian country. Today it continues in its struggle to recover from the destruction of social, health, education and economic structures as a result of the Khmer Rouge era and years of civil war. Unfortunately, its fragile infrastructure and political instability creates an ideal environment for the abuse of human rights.
The number of tourists and foreign residents present in Cambodia, particularly in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, has increased exponentially over the last several years. As these numbers have increased, so too has the proportion of travelling sex offenders, who find Cambodia an attractive destination for the purpose of street-based child sexual exploitation for several reasons. First, a significant percentage of the population in Cambodia live below the poverty line[1] and as a result are more vulnerable to grooming [2] or offers of financial support and assistance in exchange for sexual favors. Second, as a result of this poverty, children are easily accessible in public places frequented by foreigners, begging, working in tourist-orientated family businesses, shoe-shining, collecting garbage and performing other labor activities. Third, a culture of impunity continues to pervade divisions of law enforcement and judicial agencies, and as a result the majority of foreigner-perpetrated child sexual-abuse crimes have remained unpunished and the perpetrators are free to continue their criminal action without accountability.
Our History
In the late 1990s, APLE’s founder Mr. Thierry Darnaudet visited Cambodia and was astounded by the overtly present street-based child sexual abuse. Children were openly being groomed and in some instances, abused in public places. This problem was compounded by the lack of knowledge and gross inaction of the local people, authorities on such issues.
In 2003, partnering with Global Humanitaria Spain, APLE was finally launched in Cambodia and has since grown from operations in Phnom Penh alone to a countrywide scale. For dynamic responses, APLE launched its mobile operations spanning across the country to target suspects of child sexual abuse, who are going for anonymity of their abuse in a far less serviced location.
APLE continues to work with the Royal Government of Cambodia under Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth.
In 2008, APLE became part of the National Committee on Anti-human Trafficking, Smuggling, Sexual and Labor Exploitation of Women and Children led by Ministry of Interior to represent civil society organizations in the Law Enforcement Working Group.
In 2009, with additional financial support from Terre Des Hommes-Netherlands, APLE started a law and justice strengthening program that seeks to provide a more comprehensive legal support to child victims and their families, strengthen law and criminal justice practices and build the capacity of frontline law enforcement officials in the cases of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Staffing and Leadership
APLE employs private child protection investigators to help the police target suspects of the sexual abuse, attorneys to provide legal assistance and representation to the victims and their families and social workers to respond to child’s issues around the sexual abuse and recovery. To secure adequate responses, APLE investigative team shift the work within 24 hours a day and seven days per week. APLE staffs are all Cambodian actors that are well trained and equipped with knowledge and skills.
APLE’s Board of Director consists of a founding president, country executive director, chief of staff and technical advisor. These people have extensive experiences in leadership. APLE management also encourages local youths and Cambodian young generation to get involved in the fight against sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
Our Law Enforcement Commitment
APLE is committed to assisting the law enforcement officials and agencies to investigate and prosecute sexual predators as well as to seek real justice for victims. Since its operation began, APLE has further cooperated with a large number of foreign police agencies around the world to ensure appropriate action and conviction against perpetrators.
Our Vision
Children growing free from sexual abuse and exploitation and zero chance of impunity.
Our Mission
Working toward reduction of sexual abuse and exploitation and eradication of the impunity.
Our Goals
Our Funding Sources
APLE relies on the contributions from individual donors, foundations, companies and organizations. Our sincere thanks extend to everyone who has made protecting children possible.
Global Humanitaria (GH):
Global Humanitaria is a Spanish chairty organization that has co-founded APLE and continues to be an integral partner, funding the majority of APLE’s activities.
Other Donors:
Asociacion Protect (AP)
Terre Des Hommes-Netherlands (TDH-NL)
Spanish Agency for International Cooperation-AECID
Microsoft Corporation
Nour Foundation
The British Embassy-Phnom Penh
The Swiss Embassy-Bangkok
Virtue Foundation
The Doshi Family
Stop Exploitation Now
Village Focus International
Mr. M. Gold
Canadians for the Expansion of Social Economics in Cambodia (CESEC)
Table de Cana
The Monkey Republic Bar and Guesthouse
Tan
Frederic Hughie | 
