PROJECT FUTURES gives hope by transforming the lives of women and children in Cambodia and Australia affected by sexual slavery, trafficking and exploitation.
Funds raised support established projects that work to prevent, support and empower victims, survivors and those at-risk.
In partnership with AFESIP Cambodia since 2009, we support the service to care for and secure the rights of women and girls who have been victims or at-risk of human trafficking and sexual slavery by providing safe and secure housing, confidential psychological support, routine and emergency medical treatments, as well as professional legal assistance and opportunities for education and training.
One overriding factor in the proliferation of trafficking is the fundamental belief that the lives of women and girls are expendable. In societies where women and girls are undervalued or not valued at all, women are at greater risk for being abused, trafficked, and coerced into sex slavery.
Weak law enforcement, corruption, grinding poverty and the fractured social institutions left by the country’s turbulent recent history has helped earn Cambodia an unwelcome reputation for child trafficking and sexual abuse.
Join us for an elegant evening on the water in Sydney to celebrate International Women’s Day, the women who have dedicated their lives to supporting victims of sex trafficking and to mark nine years of ongoing support for AFESIP Cambodia.
Renowned Cambodian survivor of sex slavery and human rights activist Somaly Mam, along with fellow survivor Sina Vann, will share their personal perspectives on the issue, thoughts around how to eradicate modern slavery and why empowering survivors will help to lead this change.
Audiences will leave with a renewed sense of purpose and an appreciation of the resilience needed to overcome adversity in its many forms.
Do not miss the chance to meet the woman who inspired the PROJECT FUTURES mission.
Date: Friday 9 March 2018
Location: Dockside, Darling Rooms (Balcony Level)
Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour
Time: 630pm - 1030pm
Attire: Black Tie
Ticket: $150 per person or
$1,350 for a table of 10
International human rights activist, founder, best-selling author and fearless survivor of sex slavery
Born into a tribal minority family and sold at the age of 12, Somaly is a survivor of sexual slavery and a human rights activist.
Forced to work in a brothel along with other children for nearly a decade, she was brutally tortured and raped on a daily basis.
After escaping the industry with the help of a foreigner, she went onto establish AFESIP Cambodia (Acting for Women in Distressing Situations) to rehabilitate and reintegrate children and young girls who have been rescued from the sex trade.
She has dedicated her life's work to supporting victims by providing a safe space to start the heading process and empowering survivors to become agents of change.
Survivor of sex slavery and outreach worker at AFESIP Cambodia
Born in Vietnam, Sina was abducted from schools and sold to a brother in Cambodia where she was forced to service up to 20-30 clients a day. If she refused to work, she would be tortured with chilli and locked in a dark, underground room without food.
It was only after the brothel was raided by police after a number of years that freedom seemed assured, but at the expense of being able to return home to her family.
From victim to survivor to empowered young woman, Sina was supported by AFESIP to recover, seek out an education and eventually return to the centre to support other women in similar situations.
Sina now leads the social outreach program at AFESIP, supporting women in some of the most impoverished communities by raising awareness of the service, promoting access to primary healthcare and safe sex practices.
Emma Rossi spent nearly two decades reporting for news and current affairs on national television, a job that took her overseas as a foreign correspondent, across Australia as a reporter, and into the lounge rooms across the world as a news presenter.
Since 2011 Emma has been the public face of the Federal Government’s telecommunications and media regulator. She is also a regular spokesperson for Children’s e-safety and security.
Emma is well regarded for her philanthropic pursuits mentoring and developing people. She has been an Australia Day Ambassador for NSW Premier and Cabinet since 2013 and cycled with PROJECT FUTURES in Cambodia in September, 2014.
Emma has taken a national leadership role in improving the online safety for Australian women fleeing domestic violence. Currently a Board Director, Emma was instrumental in the establishment of Mary’s House, a refuge in Sydney’s lower north shore for women and children.