"Gov’t Launches Plan After Cambodia’s Anti-Trafficking Rank Falls", 11 August 2022

Officials introduced new plans to combat human trafficking in response to the U.S.’s decision to drop Cambodia to the lowest ranking in anti-trafficking efforts, in a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Sar Kheng.

During the meeting ..., the General Department of Immigration’s director general Kieth Chantharith read out points of a draft action plan to fight all forms of human trafficking, ...

He said that the plan was aimed at Cambodians, particularly women and children, who are vulnerable to any form of sex trafficking or labor trafficking, “as well as foreigners living in the Kingdom of Cambodia,” Chantharith said.

“Do not fall into the trap of modern slavery.”

... Chantharith said the department was collaborating with the National Committee for Combatting Human Trafficking, chaired by Kheng, to set out a plan of principles and measures to take in order to respond to and prevent trafficking. He also applauded Cambodia’s efforts to crack down on trafficking cases and raise awareness to prevent people from being trafficked, and integrating survivors back into communities.

..., the U.S. downgraded Cambodia to the “Tier 3” list in its annual Trafficking in Persons report, citing continuous labor and sex trafficking of Cambodian citizens as well as rising reports of foreigners being trafficked into the country to work in online fraud and gambling operations.

Dozens of foreign workers from countries in Southeast and East Asia have said they were sold into businesses in Cambodia, where they were detained, sometimes tortured, and often forced to pay ransom in order to escape...