Organization
Ratanak International
Ratanak International is a Canadian Christian charity that works against human trafficking and exploitation in Cambodia.[1][2] Its international headquarters is in Canada, and an operations team in Cambodia monitors its projects.[3][4]
History
Ratanak was founded by Brian McConaghy.[5] It was first incorporated federally in Canada as the Ratanak Foundation, and its legal name became Ratanak International on April 14, 2014.[4]
Work
Ratanak works with Cambodian communities, other nonprofits and Cambodian government agencies.[2] It describes its work as prevention, protection, return and restoration.[6]
- Prevention. The Community Heroes Prevention Project trains local leaders to teach at-risk communities about human trafficking, sexual abuse, unsafe migration and children's rights. The Trafficking Vulnerability Prevention Project links vulnerable families with social workers, therapists and economic empowerment staff. The Entertainment Hostess Empowerment Project helps women working in karaoke bars and beer gardens recognize high-risk conditions and move toward safer work.[2]
- Protection. Through its National Technical Support Project, Ratanak works with other nonprofits and Cambodian government ministries to improve national and regional policies and systems for identifying victims and for protecting, returning and rehabilitating survivors.[2]
- Return. Ratanak works with government agencies to bring trafficking survivors home from abroad and connect them with programs that reduce their risk of being trafficked again.[2]
- Restoration. The Transitional Care Project provides safe housing and individual care for women who have survived exploitation. The Community-Based Care Project supports men and women after they return to their home communities, with medical care, trauma therapy and job training.[2]
Ratanak publishes annual reports, and an outside firm audits its accounts each year.[4]