A special unit has been set up to investigate child sex crimes

In this Crossing Continents, we revealed how sexual exploitation of children in Cambodia is rife.

Julian Pettifer travelled to Phnom Penh and reported on efforts to bring the perpetrators of sex crimes to justice.

Listen to the programme

We asked for your comments on the issues that our programme raised, and this is what you had to say:

There are many reasons why the issue is not dealt with sufficiently, and part of the reason is that it's something that no-one wants to talk about.
Jane

I have recently returned from a trip to Cambodia. On two separate occasions I saw Western men picking up underage children.

I was appalled at the brazen, open way these men seemed to be able to operate. They were not in the least concerned about the authorities arresting them.

Western governments need to look at who is travelling out to South East Asia and why George Miller

My impression is that the problem is exacerbated by the relative lawlessness of Cambodia, and I fear, widespread corruption.

Western governments need to look at who s travelling out to South East Asia and why.

If someone with a record of offences against children is intercepted at the airport then that means that fewer children in Cambodia will be harmed.
George Miller

More can always been done to protect children from the horrendous abuses they suffer at the hands of adults, both Cambodian and foreigners.

It is even sadder the UK government has decided to suspend inter-country adoptions from Cambodia by UK residents.

In many cases adoption by loving parents is the only hope for some of these children. Unicef supports this view completely.
Paul Charlton-Thomson

Foreign governments can help by making laws if necessary to prosecute offenders when they return home.
Mark Fldoen

On behalf of our people and country, I am asking for others to help us NC Dara, Cambodia

I am Cambodian. Our country needs more support from other countries to solve this problem.

I think our government is still not ready to handle it. Therefore, on behalf of our people and country, I am asking for others to help us.
NC Dara

I would think that there is more to be done on a national level both by the NGOs and the government.

Cambodia's infrastructure needs to be rebuilt, and there should be proper police control, a stamping out of corruption, stamping out triads, internal policies so as to encourage foreign investors into the country.

Remember that Cambodia has just emerged from years of war and unrest.
Wilsonicolas

Both the country in which the crime is committed, and the person's own nation should have jurisdiction over them if they commit sex offences against children.

Additionally, he or she should serve time in both countries. This will have a deterring affect for potential perpetrators and drastically reduce sexual crimes against children
Kiran Nair

They still have child prostitutes behind the closed doors and there was lots of Western paedophiles there Simon Marginson

I have recently been to Cambodia and we went to look at Svay Pak or K-11 as it is commonly known. The buildings did look as if they were shut but it has all gone underground.

They still have child prostitutes behind the closed doors and there was lots of Western paedophiles there as well.
Simon Marginson

The Cambodian government obviously will do everything it can to protect its children, but it cannot do it alone.

People who travel abroad to take advantage of children should face prosecution in their own country as well.

Anyone crass enough to abuse a child abroad will very likely be doing it at home.

It is a crime against humanity. Nowhere is this considered acceptable; some things are simply wrong.
Angelique

Thank you for the articles and insights on "Cambodia's hidden shame". It is saddening to read countless articles about this problem of human trafficking.

If we want something changed then why not provide a positive outlook? Samany

I would, however like to read more about programmes being implemented or read more about NGOs who are trying very hard to tackle the problem.

I am tired of hearing the negativity. If we want something changed then why not provide a positive outlook?

Maybe the issue is not with Cambodia, but with the traffickers that are sending young girls from Vietnam? Why is that side of the issue not being addressed in any articles?
Samany

I have travelled to Cambodia several times, the first time back in 1998 when the Thai overland border opened to tourists.

Foreign governments steer clear because it is so political Dhyana

We should not underestimate the gravity of this situation and assume that it all boils down to a few seedy brothels in the back rooms of Chinese or other hotels.

This is a very much an organized crime. I know, I have seen it. I have tried to pursue several disturbing rings of paedophilia I uncovered there.

I was threatened and had my life endangered many times. But foreign governments steer clear because it is so political. Shame on them.
Dhyana

Firstly, I am grateful to the BBC's Crossing Continents programme for the opportunity for me to share my thoughts. I am deeply hurt every time I see a story about a child being abused.

Hard work has been done by many people, NGOs and governments. I am pleased to see that many large boards were jointly put up in Phnom Penh by the US government, the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, and World Vision.

All the bad things such as abuse and trafficking of children and women are always blamed on foreigners Ray Sano

But the situation of trafficking and abuses is still bad. It is on the front page of local media every day. And the abusers are not just foreigners but also the locals.

There is a wise saying in Khmer: "The jungle ghost cannot do anything in the village without the help of the village ghost."

There tends to be a "blaming-each-other-syndrome" within our society. All the bad things such as abuse and trafficking of children and women are always blamed on foreigners.

The Cambodian government, community, parents, UN, NGO, donor countries, and countries whose citizens commit child abuse in Cambodia must work together to help Cambodia fight this crime.
Ray Sano

I have a three-year-old daughter that my husband and I adopted from Cambodia as a young infant.

We were aided in our adoption process by a close friend who was one of the first Western adoption facilitators allowed into Cambodia in the late 80s.

Through following her around there, we were given a rare glimpse into the harsh reality that many young women face in Cambodia.

Women are expected to take care of their parents in their elder years, and few options for making money exist.

Many of the children that end up in orphanages are a product of young poor unmarried women in the sex trade Laurie Furumoto

Because of this pressure many young women often turn to the sex industry because they feel they have no other alternative.

Many of the children that end up in orphanages are a product of young, poor unmarried women in the sex trade.

Our friend Lauryn was in the process of setting up training programs to teach trades such as crafting and sewing to enable young women to find positive forms of livelihood.

Programmes such as this help to empower women and can help turn the tide, and hopefully protect the children as well.

For my part I am so thankful my beloved baby girl is not there after reading this series of articles.
Laurie Furumoto

As we all know, child sex abuse does not only happen in Cambodia.

Even in the North of America or Europe one can find these cases.

The problem has to be brought to the attention of the United Nations so that we can create an organisation to protect the children in need of help.
Marya Mathres

These people need to be locked up and the key thrown away. What the authorities are doing in Cambodia is good but more needs to be done.

How could anyone do this to children, especially a small helpless one-year-old? It is disgusting. It made me sick to the stomach when I read about it.

These poor, poor children. And the parents, why are they selling their children? It is heartless. If they do not have money why do they have children?
Claire

As someone who works in South East Asia and who has travelled to many of the countries in the area, including Cambodia, I would have to say that not enough is being done to combat child prostitution.

Much of the problem stems from poverty, prostitution is well-paid compared to most unskilled jobs.

Walking the streets in South East Asia it is there for all to see, fat middle-aged foreigners walking off with very young Asian girls. Alex

Corruption may also be a factor. In many countries law-enforcers are easily paid off because of their low salaries.

The influx of foreigners looking for children is only happening because child prostitution is allowed to happen there.

Walking the streets in South East Asia it is there for all to see, fat middle-aged foreigners walking off with very young Asian girls.

Not only should these countries look at their systems but Western countries should be monitoring where their citizens are going more closely.
Alex

Like everything else it is down to personal integrity.

I was offered 12-year-old girls in Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City Andrew

I was offered 12-year-old girls in Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. I turned down the offers, but if, like Pitcairn, it becomes an aspect of that society, where does one start to initiate a crackdown?
Andrew

Nowhere near enough is being done to protect the children of this world.

They are our greatest gift and asset. They are the future of mankind.

Children worldwide need care, love, affection, and to feel protected. They should be having fun, not living in constant fear and dread.

I, like millions of others, want a deadly retribution to fall on the heads of the barbarians that steal their childhood away from them.
Catherine Pordage

I definitely think we should be doing more to control our own citizens going in search of sex with children in countries in Asia or South America.

I think we should be giving Cambodia humanitarian help so it can pull through and have a decent quality of life Irma

If there is no demand, then there is no offer. We are talking about very poor countries where people would do anything to earn a bit of money in order to eat and support their families.

People travelling to these countries looking for sex with teenagers should be ashamed to contribute to the sex slave trade.

I think we should be giving Cambodia humanitarian help so it can pull through and have a decent quality of life.
Irma

I travelled through Cambodia last year and I was deeply struck by how vulnerable the children there were. Families were struggling to survive and it appeared that everything was for sale.

Governments need to be exchanging information so that when known paedophiles travel abroad Sinead Smith

Given the economic problems of the country, I think the Cambodian government needs to receive significant assistance from foreign governments to tackle this huge problem.

Also, governments need to be exchanging information so that when known paedophiles travel abroad, other countries are aware of the potential risks from these people.
Sinead Smith

The comments we publish are not necessarily the views of the BBC but will reflect the balance of views we have received. It is helpful if contributors state if they work for any organisation relevant to an issue discussed. Readers should form their own views on whether messages published represent undeclared interests, or views prompted by a common source.