THE Cambodian Center for the Protection of Children's Rights and the Phnom Penh Municipality

sent two young girls to their villages in Pursat after they were rescued from the

capital's sex industry on Jan 8.

One, a 16-year-old girl from Pursat province, said she ended up in a Phnom Penh brothel

on street 63 after the family she worked for near Psa Thmei sold her for $110.

The pair were freed after one girl fled and the CCPCR were alerted. Police could

not be reached for comment on what action may be taken against the brothel owners.

Yim Po, CCPCR's executive director, said that the owners were freed after they gave

their finger-prints to the police promising to stop exploiting children in their

industry.

He described child prostitution as increasingly alarming for children rights.

"Child prostitution is rampant in Cambodia. Every month, parents approached

us for help to look for their lost kids," he said.

A bill on protection of children rights was still awaiting the cabinet and National

Assembly's adoption, he said.