There are so many of us in the anti-trafficking community who have been waiting for this day. Finally some truth comes out, so thank you Newsweek and Simon Marks. Does it matter if you lie to the public to get donor funds? Um, yes. Does it matter if you lie in order to do good? Yes, yes it does. It degrades every person who has given their lives to help others without lying and it degrades the public to treat them like morons who need sad stories to me moved to help those in need.

And there is little to no proof Somaly does good with the children in her care. I have seen her work and it's abysmal by all standards and her exploitation of children in media and with donors is disgusting. It also violates the UN Declaration of the Rights of a Child, something everyone should care about. Not to mention the continuation of corruption in Cambodian society she is propagating by paying families to use their children to get money for herself. (Sounds a little like trafficking one might say).

Somaly degrades the entire anti-trafficking movement with her lies, misuse of funds and poor care of survivors. With the money her organization brings in she should run the best aftercare in the world. Sadly, it's not even average. I would urge her new executive team to see other more highly regarded projects in Cambodia to understand what is lacking. I would recommend you listen to your former staff, fellows and interns to really know what happens in Somaly's projects. They know, they have tried to speak out and have not been heard. You owe that to the children the public has charged you with overseeing through their donations.

Your investigation into her story is great, but you really need to investigate her work in Cambodia that is impacting real people, with real needs. She clearly does not understand or value truth, so you can be sure what she says about numbers of survivors served, and her involvement in rescues and rehabilitation is not true as well. Thank you to Candace for leading the charge of honesty and accountability for so long.

Now, the question is - will anyone care? I really, really hope so.

Well written. I've worked in the sector for over 10 years. FINALLY this story is out. I also hope (but doubt) that it will instigate the deeper reflection required. At very least, I'm glad that something public now exists that exposes the truth for those looking for it.

I care. I am currently working on a study focused on trafficking and ngos. I know the difference all too well. This person is exploiting the marginalized with no shame and no remorse. She is a predator.

No shame and no remorse are two main characteristics of a psychopath. Somaly Mam is a textbook perfect narcissistic psychopath even by knowing half of what she has been doing. And one should not meet her in person to figure this out. One only needs to know what psychopathy is, how to figure a psychopath (unfortunately I had to learn that) - and match it with anything in the Mam saga to see a 100% match.

Of course there is the flock - the flock that will follow her and support endlessly and will ignore any facts.
This is what happens with any cults around a psychopathic leader. Some followers in cults even kill themselves if the psycho wishes them to do that. Religious feelings are difficult to change once they develop.

The other kind of supporter is the one who actually paid for the Mam Scam and now feels stupid. Live with it, you had been set up then ripped off - don't add more to your stupidity by trying to protect the psycho.

Folks, try to wake up and see that she has spent on the brothelgirly pity story only as much as it was necessary to maintain the money flow.
The financial data of her money making foundation are public, find it and see. Six digit salaries, huge PR, travel and marketing expenses and minuscule amounts given for the "real cause" however those look also shady.

Follow FACTS not FEELINGS.

Its a good strategy in general when handling psychos:
watch what they really do - not what they say.

With Mam it works very well, And a journalist should do nothing else but compare the two and you have a front page article.

THIS IS JUST WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS STORY. Shame on this so called report who'se main achievement is to get people to further feel this way about so called 'prostitutes' these serial killer mindsets of those who see no harm to them ...only 3 yr olds if bought: what a disgrace: if she is a sinner you people are the Devil.

In English, please?

She is a predator, but her donors were mostly well-meaning and naive. I would encourage her donors to continue giving money, but only to organisations in their own communities, keep the money local. Because these international NGO's are mostly scams and difficult to keep an eye on when you live on the other side of the planet.

Some organizations in Cambodia are doing stellar work - Transitions Global is one.

Do you have any evidence that "international NGO's are mostly scams"? It's unfair to tar them all with the same brush. This article only talks about two organizations and the one individual that leads them.

If everyone in rich countries and rich communities follows your advice to keep their money local, then there will be a
lot more suffering in poor countries and poor communities. The solution is not to give up on international NGO's entirely but to become more informed and make better decisions about which NGO's to give to. Give where your money can make the most difference—which may indeed be on the other side of the planet, not just in your backyard.

Of course I have evidence, I would not make such a suggestion without. I live and work in these communities, and see first-hand what the NGO's and charities achieve. Best case scenario is they keep your money and do nothing. Worst case scenario, is the actually do something, and they muck things up even worse.

Most of the people NGO's claim to be 'victims', or as you say 'suffering', are neither. They certainly don't know what they are missing in their lives until we give it or show it to them.

As you rightly say "...become more informed and make better decisions about which NGO's to give to." Unfortunately, with Celebrity shills, and new's organisations and the US State Dept. regurgitating NGO brochure bullet points as 'facts', it is VERY difficult for anyone to know what is really happening in this big world.

Rest assured, there are people in your own community that need your help much more than almost anyone on another continent.

Giving locally gives you full supervision, satisfaction that you are getting the most bang for your buck, and confidence that you are doing something good, not something questionable or downright bad.

Charity starts at home. When you are convinced you have solved all of your problems at home (which, to be honest, would never happen), then perhaps you spread out your circle of influence, but as you say "become more informed and make better decisions about which NGO's to give to." Though I'm fairly certain that 100% of the people giving their hard earned money to someone else always feels like they are making an informed decision.

I should clarify, I meant the donors local community e.g. Portland, Oregon, not the NGO's.

To some degree, yes, but there will always be local charities, churches, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, meals on wheels etc. that survive on local donations. What my post was intended to convey, but apparently did not, was not to give money to an organization that operates half way around the world, give it to a group in your town that you can hold accountable, and watch their efforts.

Sounds like you know the deal. Can't really fault them, it's a nice lifestyle. What gets my panties in a knot is their clueless followers/donors, they are so idealistic, and their leaders are the polar opposite of idealistic. Each NGO is its own cult/religion.

Christian Church Groups and groups like Friends International (sp) are the ones with the best records; but Hollywood types in the main abhor Christians.

Oh right! Do you know her?

I don't have to know her personally. I am educated enough to make an inference based on the evidence existent regarding her, or those like her. There are many ways to interpret data, and she left a long and rich trail of inconsistencies behind her, to put it in a nice wording. For instance, when she makes claims like " eight girls were murdered by traffickers after a raid" and that turns out to be a lie, then what does that say about her? When one makes misleading statements and uses people who are in a precarious situation to get money, that is predatory behavior.

I am amazed that we have to know her personally to draw educated conclusions based on her actions, but we don't have to know her personally to donate money, or accept everything she claims as anything but the god send truth.

Thank you for your post and kind words. I completely agree - the attention must now turn to AFESIP and its poor quality. SMF funding of AFESIP must end.

Thank you - and thank you to all who are speaking out now about their experiences with AFESIP and Somaly. I couldn't agmowit

You are shameful, trying to stop this woman from saving girls from slavery. Her work is backed up by the State Department. I can only assume that you frequent the brothels and want to keep them open.

Actually as a woman, I don't frequent brothels. I am actually someone who has worked in the anti-trafficking community for the last 9 years. I feel sad for you and the others in these comments blindly defending Somaly and her work. I'm sure you mean well, but you are grossly misinformed and misguided. As for the State Dept., they have funded her in the past but realized their mistake and no longer fund her. This is because of a lack of accountability in reporting on the money and the lack of results in her program. The bottom line is you can't lie, misuse funds and do poor work without eventually getting caught. The sheer number of people who have spoken out against her work and character in Cambodia is overwhelming. They are good people, who want the best for victims and survivors. People who work tirelessly without lying and cheating the public. People who give their lives without celebrity. They are not shameful, pedophiles, or people who frequent brothels. In addition, multiple board members and executives have repeatedly quit due to the corruption and culture at SMF. Sorry, you're just plain wrong here.

Totally agree and thank you for making these comments.

What an ignorant and disgusting reply. Being backed by your State Department doesn't ensure anything positive is going on, just ask the civilian populations of many countries whose abusive dictatorial leaders were supported by them. Thats the "ignorant" part. But where you are truly disgusting is in your presumption that someone frequesnt brothels and wants to keep them open, based on their support for this story. Inexcusable. .

Glad to finally see it appearing in a mainstream US publication. Credit to Simon Marks - but also to Phorn Bopha and Lor Chandara who co-authored previous articles about this in the Cambodia Daily, and who could have been named as a footnote. Credit also to the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age (Australia), El Mundo (Spain), and The Diplomat (Japan), to name but a few of the media outlets who previously reported about Somaly Mam's web of lies already. And credit to Newsweek. Now they could add links under their previous pieces mentioning Mam.

I’ve been active in the anti-trafficking movement for several years. I am by no means an expert but I have had the opportunity to visit aftercare programs in India and Cambodia. In India the programs were run by partners of International Justice Mission and in Cambodia the aftercare home was run by Transitions Global and there were other programs run by other NGOs. These programs, especially in Cambodia were phenomenal. I was absolutely in awe of the staff and the girls they care for. Trauma counseling, secondary school, vocational counseling, life skills, family outreach, and so many brave young women finding their strength and becoming independent women.

One of the common threads in these aftercare programs is the absolute ban (or highly monitored) on cameras in the aftercare homes. What has happened to these girls is very traumatic and private. The girls are never asked to publicly tell their stories. Never! Sure, they have nothing to be ashamed of and we want them to be strong and brave, but it should be up to them, and only them, if, when, and how they discuss their story. That does not seem to be how AEFSIP operates where the best speakers are paraded out to tell their story or or some made up story or whatever. I was shocked when I turned on Half the Sky and saw that at AFESIP the cameras were apparently allowed to freely roam and film anyone and anything they wanted. Further, I had heard of the volunteer, perhaps the woman quoted in the story, who had said that AEFSIP does not have a sincere counseling program for these girls. (Of course if the girls have not really been trafficked or abused I suppose there is not so much of a need…)

Fabricated stories, bad aftercare, or whatever care, hurts the movement as a whole. Who should we believe if the biggest spokeswoman is a fraud!? Not everyone had the ability to see for themselves. It’s so sad because there is no need for all the lies. If she wants to help, she can help without lying. The issue doesn’t need to be sensationalized. The truth is bad enough.

Glad to see your critique finally reach a mainstream venue - Andrew would have been pleased, too. I tweeted many of your points and to the question 'Does it matter parts of her story are untrue?' reply 'To many of us, yes, but not to members of the Rescue Industry.'

This story is inaccurate and irresponsible. Read the U.S. State Department reports on the rampant problem of kids being sold in Cambodia. Visit Cambodia and see the children in brothels, right in the middle of the capital city. Visit Somaly's shelters and see the kids she is rehabilitating. Learn the real truth.

I've lived here for years too, also not seen any of these fabled children in brothels in the middle of PP. I also know all the child protection NGOs, and their particular competencies fairly well. None are as bad as Mam Somaly's, to many here she's well known for being not much better than a scam artist.

She, and the blindly ignorant crusaders like yourself that stick up for her, do far more harm than good to the cause you purportedly care about.

Curious, I've been living on and off in Cambodia for three years and have yet to see this supposed sea of children in brothels.

I have to say I have also lived in Cambodia working for a (different) preventive anti-trafficking NGO and there are a lot of children in brothels- just not as many prepubescent ones as is sometimes imagined. Usually they are targeted around 15 or 16. These are the ages that with a bit of make up, you may not be able to tell how old they are. It may not have the same shock factor as an 8 year old but it's still pretty horrific.

WARNING TROLL ALERT-Her is her "story' about the "GIANT brothel in the middle of Phnom Penh" that no one else in the entire country has ever heard of. It is difficult to generate many customers if no one knows you exist!

Then you are blind. There is a giant brothel right in the middle of Phnom Penh that everyone knows about. Open your eyes.

As a researcher out of Harvard, I must inform you that the 'data' you were fed by the State Dept came from a self-serving NGO and not from 'boots on the ground.' i found the ILO a better source of information. Our country goes through 'hysteria' phases and the trafficking issue, while real, does not need fear mongering but strategists backed with real evidence.

what brothels in the middle of the city? in my time of living there ( 2008-09) and traveling there since 2002 never have i seen children in Brothels .Before u post such lies visit Cambodia.. ITs 90% hype, 10% truth and its ALL about funding!!!

You should stay out of the brothels!

WARNING TROLL ALERT- And of course who can forget the old dreaded "brothel - goer" slam!

Keep on denying, brothel-goers. Keep the brothels alive. Stop people like Somaly from rescuing girls. Good job!

disgraceful repsonse, suggesting that because someone doesnt agree with you they are brothel goers. I have been living here on and off for 20 years, I go out a lot in the city, I know it well, both its cleaner and seedier sides, I have yet to bump into or told wth any accuracy of these mythical child brothels in the middle of PP. Perhaps you are simply more observant than me?

Having lived there off and on I can say this is a total fabrication.

I can only assume your swallowing these lies as facts.

On Somaly's payroll or just back from a three days Angkor trip?

I have lived here on and of for 22 years. The claims of children being
sold in the city in the way you would ask us to believe are fanciful.
Reading the State Department reporting as your primary source? How about you come and spend some time in the city....

I guess you want to keep the girls in brothels. I've seen the girls in brothels firsthand. There's a giant brothel in the middle of Phnom Penh that everyone knows about. But keep on denying. The pedophiles thank you.

Hmmmmm....seems odd that you have seen really, really young girls in brothels firsthand (customer?) and know so much about a non-existant brothel "in the middle of the city", yet virtually every other person on here, most of who have also lived in Cambodia, says you are totally full of s*it. It seems very obvious to pretty much everyone with a funtioning brain who the liar here is! And are you thanking Res on behalf of pedophiles all over Cambodia or just yourself?

This type of response is infantile and ignorant.

Do you seriously advise another woman to visit a brothel? LOL
In the effort of hiding the dirty laundry you even forget basic logic.
Big money is on the stake, right? ;)

You have no idea who you just replied to, do you?

Laura has been demolishing the lies of the Rescue Industry for years.

But of course, this isn't just happening in far off exotic places. The Child Abuse Industry is quite powerful in the western world. It takes on a different form here, where it vilifies men and especially child lovers in order to remove the victims from their natural protectors, so the children can get "therapy" that often makes them feel unloved and unwanted and introduces stress into their lives - all for the profit and prestige of the "rescuers" - who are at best naive and often tyrants like Mam.

Yes, definitely done your homework...The Naked Anthropologist is one of my heroes!!