SURVIVORS & HEALING

Most survivors in this area are now in their seventies and eighties — for them, support cannot wait. Our work here follows what survivors themselves ask for, and builds the local relationships that keep them visible long after a single project ends.

The projects below show how.

Restoring Dignity, Justice and Healing for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Interim Reparative Measures Project | In partnership with TPO Cambodia and the Global Survivors Fund

During the Khmer Rouge regime, thousands of women and men were subjected to sexual violence - forced into marriages and coerced into relationships under direct regime control. For decades, most survivors remained invisible. Stigma and silence prevented them from speaking about what they had endured, and their experiences went largely unrecognized.

Today, many survivors are between 65 and 80 years old. They continue to live with the long-term physical, emotional, and economic consequences of the violence they experienced - and time is running out to provide them with the recognition and support they deserve.

Together with TPO Cambodia and the Global Survivors Fund, Kdei Karuna supports survivors through a project that combines individual reparations, psychosocial support, community memorialization, and survivor-led advocacy.

Recognition

For many survivors, this is the first time their experiences have been formally acknowledged.

Survivors are given space to share their stories, connect with others who share similar experiences, and participate in decisions that affect their lives. Being seen, heard, and valued - after decades of silence - is itself a form of healing.

Justice

Reparations mean far more than financial support.

Survivors use individual reparative measures to access healthcare, improve their living conditions, and invest in small livelihoods. But beyond the practical, reparations send a clear message: what happened was wrong, and survivors have a right to recognition and dignity. For many, this acknowledgment is long overdue.

Healing

Many survivors have spent decades carrying painful memories alone.

Through psychosocial support, peer networks, and Older People's Associations, survivors rebuild trust, strengthen social connections, and find community among people who understand their experiences. Members describe reduced isolation, renewed confidence, and a sense that they are no longer facing their challenges alone.

Building for the future

The project also works to strengthen the local structures that will support survivors beyond the life of the project - engaging local authorities, community leaders, and civil society to keep survivors' needs visible and to support survivor-led initiatives that last.