Prime Minister Hun Manet said there have been foreign reports about Cambodia on human trafficking, which “weren’t accurate or fair”, and downgraded its efforts to fight human trafficking.
The government remains committed to combating transnational crime, especially human trafficking, and to enhance prevention and suppression of criminal tactics, he assured.
“We have never denied we have this problem. Cambodia has never denied that it does not have a problem with human trafficking or other security issues,” Hun Manet said during National Anti-Human Trafficking Day in Phnom Penh on December 12, 2024.
“That is why we have strengthened measures, enforced the law and cooperated with foreign countries in good faith,” Hun Manet said.
He cited the case of a South Korean man who claimed that he was captured and tortured but police later found that the sites where the incident happened were untrue after they checked them. In another case, he said, the media reported about a foreign man who was made a “blood slave”, but it did not reflect the true situation.
Hun Manet said in the past, many criminals, mostly illegal foreign immigrants, entered Cambodia under false pretenses but hid and committed anarchic crimes, which led to massive cyber crimes using technology which Cambodia had never experienced before.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sar Sokha explained that the national campaign to combat human trafficking is a collaborative effort of 22 ministries, institutions and five specialized units. The entities work together at national and sub-national levels to coordinate to prevent and suppress human trafficking.
“In the past 10 months, we have observed that although human trafficking and related crimes have not completely disappeared in Cambodia, reported criminal activity has decreased and crimes have been suppressed in a timely manner,” Sokha said on National Anti-Human Trafficking Day.
He added that this has led to improved political, economic and social stability in Cambodia.
He urged other countries to maintain earnest cooperation to address the real issues affecting the safety of their citizens. He emphasized the importance of conducting thorough assessments and strengthening collaboration, while avoiding unfounded accusations.
Chou Bun Eng, vice president of Cambodia’s National Committee for Counter-Trafficking in Person (NCCT), and National Police spokesperson Chhay Kimkhoeun, could not be reached for comment.
According to government-aligned Freshnews, which published NCCT’s first semester report, 104 cases were recorded resulting in 134 arrests, including four foreigners for human trafficking and sexual exploitation. In addition, the authorities rescued 290 victims, where 241 were women, and 134 were minors below the age of 18.
Am Sam Ath, operations director of Cambodian human rights group LICADHO, expressed concern over the escalating human trafficking situation in recent years. He emphasized that online fraud has become a major factor contributing to human trafficking in Cambodia, complicating efforts to address the issue.
He noted that these challenges affect Cambodia’s ability to attract investment, amid concerns of safety and security, particularly felt by tourists, which are heightened due to ongoing human trafficking problems.
Sam Ath mentioned that foreign media outlets have reported on online scams, which raised concern for law enforcement in Cambodia.
“Therefore, Cambodia must strengthen strategies and measures to prevent human trafficking. First, it must strengthen law enforcement to be more effective. Second, it must eliminate corruption in human trafficking, and third, it must ensure that those who commit crime are held accountable,” he said.
Cambodian authorities need more technical training to address the evolving nature of human trafficking, especially in relation to online scams. Regional cooperation is also essential to identify human traffickers and prevent Cambodia from becoming a hub.
In addition, he urged that awareness be raised among citizens, and to encourage their participation in the prevention of human trafficking, which is crucial.