Somaly Mam, une Cambodgienne vendue comme esclave sexuelle dans son enfance, a été élue "femme de l'année 2006" par le magazine américain Glamour, pour son combat contre l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants et des femmes en Asie du Sud-Est.
"Somaly Mam est un modèle pour les femmes à travers le monde", explique la rédactrice en chef de Glamour, Cindi Leive. "Elle a survécu aux atroces abus de son enfance et consacré sa vie à sauver d'autres filles du même destin
Parmi les précédentes lauréates du prix Glamour figurent l'ex-secrétaire d'Etat américaine Madeleine Albright, la pop star Britney Spears et Mukhtar Mai, jeune Pakistanaise victime d'un viol collectif tribal ayant eu le courage de poursuivre en justice ses agresseurs.
🙂Albright: une femme intelligente, cool, francophile parlant le français aisément...Bras droit de Clinton, mais pas la maîtresse de Bill, faut voir monica pour cela😉
Somaly Mam,
Elle était sur Paris, il y a peu de temps, et je me souviens sur une radio, qu'elle
nous racontait qu'elle avait créée une association, pour aider les enfants cambodgiens victimes de viols ! 😉🙂
Ce titre de femme de l'année 2006, lui va à merveille ! 😉
Merci à Somaly !🙂
Erika.
Somaly Mam, une Cambodgienne vendue comme esclave sexuelle dans son enfance, a été élue "femme de l'année 2006" par le magazine américain Glamour, pour son combat contre l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants et des femmes en Asie du Sud-Est.
"Somaly Mam est un modèle pour les femmes à travers le monde", explique la rédactrice en chef de Glamour, Cindi Leive. "Elle a survécu aux atroces abus de son enfance et consacré sa vie à sauver d'autres filles du même destin
Parmi les précédentes lauréates du prix Glamour figurent l'ex-secrétaire d'Etat américaine Madeleine Albright, la pop star Britney Spears et Mukhtar Mai, jeune Pakistanaise victime d'un viol collectif tribal ayant eu le courage de poursuivre en justice ses agresseurs.
Euro News
Le sage se conforme aux principes éternels :
de la modération, de la droiture, de l'humanité
et de la justice. (Philosophie chinoise).
En parfait accord avec toi des Dames comme M.Albrigt c'est du grand bonheur il en faudrait beaucoup heureusement il y en a quelques unes de part le monde. Bravo a toutes ces Dames. Daniel
Bonjour Erikag, j'ignore si les precedents intervenants savent lire un topic...mais pour casser ils sont specialistes! Helas je ne fais pas comme jf bmons (ex: traite tous les males thai de lopettes, (cliquez son pseudo, lisez les messages...si vous ne me croyez pas...et puis eventuellement lisez les miens ), nous ne jouons pas dans la meme cour ...Ceci dit, je conseille la lecture du livre de Somaly mam: Le silence de l'inocence. Somaly a cree l'asso AFESIP et pour en savoir ^plus, je vous propose de consulter le site www.afesip.org merci a ceux qui dans leur message font preuve d'un peu d'humanite.!Le voyage pour moi n'a jamais constitue une rencontre de l'ailleurs sans une rencontre avec les autres. Si une reponse a la con amenait le moderateur a censure ce post, vous sauriez qui en porterait la responsabilite.J'envoie en mp copie a un certain nombre de forumiste! Je ne joue pas!...sur des sujets graves!!!
Oui, le voyage, c'est d'abord la rencontre des autres, de l'Autre.
Entièrement d'accord avec ce qui est dit pour le reste et je ne pense pas que la censure fasse le jeu de certaines dénégations.
En outre, l'AFESIP lutte contre les causes et les consequences de l'exploitation sexuelle particulierement en direction des enfants et adolescentes particulierement vulnérables car forces.
c'est franchement pas serieux ce classement... (faudrait leur dire que Britney ne s'est pas faite violer)
en tout cas, entre la femme de l'année, la DG de l'OMS, le secretaire general de l'ONU, le prix nobel de la paix, on peut vraiment dire que l'asie a la cote en ce moment
4 personnalites de 4 pays differents elus a des fonctions ou titres avec une reconnaissance mondiale je dis chapeau
🏴☠️ .... C'est vrai que parfois on essaye de parler d'un sujet oh combien important et préoccupant, et le Cambodge en a bien besoin, et on ne sait pas pourquoi un goujat du verbiage vient nous casser le fil de la discussion ......
Bonjour Voilà, ce sont ceux qui s'elevent contre la censure dont ferait preuve les moderateurs qui sont les premiers a faire en sorte qu'un message soit censure, detourne...trois mois de pratique du forum m'ont appris comment faire, plus precisement comment ils font? Heureusement qu'ils ne sont pas tres nombreux! Ce que je ne comprends pas, c'est pourquoi tout un sujet est censure alors qu'un seul message est insultant ! Apres que faire lorsque l'on fait l'objet d'un acharnement d'un seul individu ?Changer de pseudo ? Comment accepter de se faire insulter en langues etrangeres ? N'a t on pas le droit d'avoir une "autre" vision du voyage que l'aspect fonctionnel qu'il a necessairement dans sa phase preparatoire en y additionnant une phase humaine, culturelle etc?
bonjour les amis
bon ! Somaly est une femme super
mais ..... que savez vous d'elle et de ses actions concretement ?
elle a malheureusement divorcé dernierement, et son associations n'est plus aussi objective qu'avant (c'est la vérité)
je sais de quoi je parle, j'ai rencontré Somaly à Lyon dans le cadre d'une rencontre avec handicap international
je dois vous avouer qu'elle est formidable et surtout tres courageuse
je lui souhaite une bonne continuation
si vous n'aimez pas mes informations, ne les lisez pas, lisez autre chose, mais respectez les car elles serviront a d'autres
Bonjour venissian,
Ayant initialise ce post, je souhaite te faire part de ma reflexion...Tu nous parles du divorce de Somaly et de ses retombees sur l'AFESIP ...Sans vouloir jouer les" people", il est evident que le couple Somaly- Pierre Legros presentait 999/1000 de risques de separation, d'ailleurs c'etait deja quasiment fait il y a deux ans ...Difference d'age, difference culturelle et encore plus difficultes de vivre le quotidien dans la peur tant les menaces sur leur vie ont etees presentes. Il y a 2 ans "on " parlait d'une Afesip Cambodge et d'une "autre"+ internationale (dans le microcosme phnom phenois).Aujourd'hui, il reste au moins le MERITE de ce COUPLE d'avoir mis le doigt, la tete, le coeur là ou ca fait mal. Apres, effectivement, il y a bcp de choses à dire...et certainement des erreurs...Nul n'est parfait, dans l ' humanitaire comme ailleurs...Vu de loin les choses semblent simples, le nez dans le guidon, c'est different...je sais AUSSI de quoi je parle !
bon ! Somaly est une femme super
mais ..... que savez vous d'elle et de ses actions concretement ?
Puisque c'est une femme super où est le problème. Et même si elle a "perdu" un peu d'objectivité dans son association, ce qui reste à prouver, comment peut-il en être autrement compte tenu de la vie qu'elle a vécu ?
L'essentiel n'est il pas le nombre important de femmes qu'elle arrive à sortir de la prostitution pour vivre une vie qu'elles se choisissent ??
Elle a divorcé ?? en France, c'est un couple sur 3. Et quand elle parle de son couple, elle explique très clairement dans son livre "Le silence de l'innocence" la naissance de ce couple et les difficultés qu'elle a rencontrées. Donc, rien de très étonnant.
Une femme à soutenir !!
PS : si je réagis un peu vite, c'est que je suis en plein dans son livre qui est vraiement très difficile non sur la forme mais sur le fond.
Somaly, :elle, elle est formidable
mais je dis la verité : son association, au demeurant nécéssaire, a perdu un peu de son objectivité
mais AFESIP est indispensable a notre société, je suis membre actif
a bientot
si vous n'aimez pas mes informations, ne les lisez pas, lisez autre chose, mais respectez les car elles serviront a d'autres
oui, je vois...😕! Les priorites ne sont peut etre pas les bonnes ! les recrutements aussi! Au depart il faut surtout ne pas coller de schema ! La psychè asiatique ne se construit pas sur la base du judeo -christiannisme, une des consequences immediate est que le sur-moi freudien est innoperant du point de vue de la "conscience collective orientale" en gros l'aide psy ne peut etre effectuee par un "Freudien" et ceci va avoir des tas de consequences(incomprehension reciproque des"filles" et du therapeute, formation de personnel local inadapte etc, etc ).Si tu veux, on passe en MP..
Je n'ai plus entendu parler de SOMALY, de son ASSO ...Qui a des nouvelles ? ..Merci ...J'espère que le boulot continue en dehors des flashs de l'actualité...
Regarding the amount of tobacco you can buy during a trip in the European Union and bring back to France, we can't really talk about a "duty-free allowance," because the rules around how much tobacco you can bring back to France aren't straightforward at all under French law.
Hello everyone! 🙂🙂,
A BIG thank you to all the travelers who sent us postcards this year—my students are becoming real geography whizzes!!!!!!!! I’m renewing my call for your kindness this year! We’re also working on food, so if your postcards can make our mouths water with local dishes, traditional meals, or typical recipes, that’d be amazing!!
Here’s a quick recap of the project:
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globetrotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse, working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m starting a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of the journal will focus on opening up to the world, diversity, travel, countries, culture...
I’m launching a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a little postcard (from France or anywhere in the world!) to take us on a journey and help us discover new places, countries, and horizons—much more fun and exciting than a regular geography textbook! One section of our journal could be called "We received mail from " and would be an opportunity to research that location and share what we learn with our readers (a super enriching activity in class).
The project starts in September 2025 but has no real end date, as this journal and world discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in my ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! (The kids will find them when they return.)
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow traveler friends. Make us dream, take us on a journey!!!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!!
Thank you in advance for your participation(s)! Below is our address. Feel free to leave your own address on a corner of the postcard if you’d like us to write back! 😊
The ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and see you soon, I hope! 😁
Julien
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
