A visit to the New York City Family Justice Center in Kew Gardens left a Cambodian sex trafficking survivor happy that such a place existed, but also sad that there was no such place in her own country.
On March 12, activist Somaly Mam toured the center and also participated in an open discussion about issues related to helping trafficking victims. She is also the founder of the Somaly Mam Foundation.
The Family Justice Center opened in Queens in July of 2008 and helps domestic violence victims by providing a variety of services under one roof.
Yolanda Jimenez, the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, said that the Family Justice Center has had a handful of sex trafficking victims come through its doors. She said the discussion with Mam would give participants the chance to talk about how to identify sex trafficking victims and help them, while also being able to show Mam what is being done in New York to assist victims.
Deputy Mayor of Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Roman said that the city is focusing on a human trafficking initiative in 2010 that aims to increase awareness about the issue, while also working with partnerships to provide services to victims and put perpetrators behind bars.
“The most powerful part of Somaly’s story is the fact that she was a victim and that now she leads an international movement to raise awareness and to educate and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do here in New York,” Robles-Roman said. “We’re raising awareness and we’re educating.”
After her tour, Mam spoke to a room full of individuals about her experiences, which included spending many years in a brothel and being abused on a constant basis. She said that helping others has been part of her healing process.
“I’m not ‘poor Somaly’ any more,” she said. “I’m ‘rich Somaly’ because I help victims around the world.”
Mam said that she was happy to see all that was being done at the Family Justice Center and that there was such a place where victims could go to get help.
“I’m so happy to see all the people work for the victim,” Mam said.
However, it was also a reminder of what is lacking in Cambodia.
“I dream to have it [a similar center] in my country,” she said.
