As part of International Women’s Day, the Child Protection Unit (CPU) shines a spotlight on the remarkable women on its frontline, working to give Cambodia’s most vulnerable children a voice and the chance for justice.
Since its establishment in 2013, the CPU has been a groundbreaking collaboration with the Cambodian National Police, dedicated to investigating serious crimes against children and ensuring justice for victims. Today, it is recognized as Cambodia’s leader in child protection, combining expert investigation with specialist care and support for children and their families.
Among the women leading this fight are Som Vathna, Noun Sonita, Chheang Leap, and Dr. Lin Nova, wives and mothers who work across crime scenes, child protection, welfare, and medical services to care for child victims of crime. The women are all based at the CPU’s new headquarters, the Lotus Centre, located in Takhmao City, Kandal Province, near Phnom Penh’s new airport.
My goal is to find justice for the child and their family
Vathna joined the CPU as one of its first staff members and has spent almost 13 years investigating crimes against children, attending crime scenes for murders and rapes, and providing ongoing support to victims and their families.
She was the first woman in the CPU to interview victims directly, navigating the delicate task of helping children open up about traumatic events.
“I always focus on helping the victim, not letting my emotions take over. I try to get the victim to open up to me, step by step, and tell her story. My goal is to find justice for the child and their family,” says Vathna, 42.
Last year, the CPU had 335 cases of serious crimes committed against children.
Vathna had various jobs before joining the CPU, including a cashier. It was a big shift in her life when she moved into child protection. Now, as Assistant Director of Child Protection Services, she oversees the CPU’s child protection team of 13, and acts as a bridge between the CPU and government ministries and authorities.
She is also a qualified police officer, holding the rank of Major Colonel.
Vathna, who is married, was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia in 2024, in recognition of her work with the CPU.
“I am very proud of myself for how far I have come,” she says.
Chheang Leap, 43, is a team leader of seven CPU Child Protection Officers and has been with the CPU since 2014. She previously worked in anti-human trafficking and an NGO for women in crisis after graduating with a management degree.
Leap’s work can include interviewing child victims of serious cases and working with their families, attending the hospital with victims, and overseeing her team’s work, personally dealing with around three to four cases a month.
“It’s an interesting field to work in. It’s work with purpose and with heart, says Leap, who is married to a teacher.
“It’s very challenging to do such work, but it’s important work. Somebody has to protect the children and give justice for the children; that’s what my team and I do.”
As a mum, I know how much the mum of the victim loves her child
As a mother of two, Leap can relate to the victims and the impact of crimes on their families.
“When I deal with a victim, I use this empathy, and as a mum, I know how much the mum of the victim loves her child. I try not to absorb too much of the trauma. I have to let it go. My husband and family are supportive of the work I do.”
Noun Sonita is the Manager of Welfare and Aftercare Services at the CPU. The role of her team is to ensure that children and families affected by abuse receive ongoing care — from medical treatment and financial aid, to mental health support and educational opportunities.
Noun Sonita is the Manager of Welfare and Aftercare Services at the CPU. The role of her team is to ensure that children and families affected by abuse receive ongoing care — from medical treatment and financial aid, to mental health support and educational opportunities.
Cases are referred to her from the CPU’s Child Protection Officers.
“I fight so hard for every child,’ Sonita, 40, says. “It’s very sad when the mother of a victim feels so much pain. We tell the victim’s mother to be strong so she can look after the victim. We have to make sure that every family member is supported.”
Some of the cases make me feel pain too, but I have to focus on how best to help the victim and family
Sonita draws strength from her own experience, having grown up in a poor family in Kandal Province and having faced obstacles to continuing her education. She began at the CPU as a cleaner and, through determination and mentorship, became a Child Protection Officer.
“Hearing the victims' stories can be very painful, and some of the victims come from a village not very different from where I came from,” she says. “I have two children of my own, so sometimes I think of my own daughter or son. Some of the cases make me feel pain too, but I have to focus on how best to help the victim and family.”
Dr. Lin Nova, 38, the CPU’s Manager of Clinical Medical Services, provides critical medical and mental health care to child victims, supporting both the children and their families, working with a nurse.
I am very proud to be part of the CPU
“We help children who cannot help themselves — mostly poor children who have no one to fight for them,” Dr. Nova explains. “Seeing them suffer is heartbreaking, but we show strength and support for them. Giving them a second chance is the most important thing we do. I am very proud to be part of the CPU.”
Dr. Nova, the mother of a young son, is also part of efforts to train Cambodian doctors in forensic examinations for children, ensuring that victims of sexual abuse are treated with professionalism and care across the country.
The CPU’s women work around the clock, responding to emergencies at any hour, attending crime scenes, and providing holistic support to children and families. Their courage, empathy, and dedication exemplify how women are transforming child protection in Cambodia.
“This work teaches us strength and resilience,” says Vathna. “Every case is a lesson, and every child we help is a victory for justice.”
