By 
Person Sitting Against the Wall, Pexels, April 1st, 2025.
By Anna Pelizzari, The Hague, April 2, 2025.
Chou Bun Eng, the Interior Ministry’s Secretary of State and vice-chairwoman for the National Committee for Countering Human Trafficking presented Cambodia’s 2024 annual report. The report states that human trafficking cases escalated, and so did enforcement action by authorities.
Cambodia ramped up its crackdown on human trafficking and sexual exploitation in 2024, with authorities investigating more cases and deporting a significantly higher number of foreign offenders compared to the previous year. According to the 2024 annual report presented by Chou Bun Eng, the Interior Ministry’s Secretary of State and vice-chairwoman for the National Committee for Countering Human Trafficking, enforcement efforts intensified, with 197 investigated cases of human trafficking and 922 cases resulting in the detention and deportation of 5,852 individuals.
Despite these positive results, it remains to be seen whether the number of cases continue to follow the current trend or will decrease in the coming years. In fact, concerns persist about the effectiveness of these measures. Minister of Interior Sar Sokha highlighted that Cambodia remains vulnerable to other cross-border crimes in addition to human trafficking, such as drug trafficking and tech-based scams. He warned that perpetrators are exploiting legal and illegal entry routes to establish criminal networks within the country. In its 2025 Report on Cambodia, Human Rights Watch corroborates these concerns, reporting that scam centres exploiting thousands continue to operate with impunity.
The Minister also stated that Cambodian authorities are working closely with the embassies, foreign representatives and international missions to resolve issues involving their citizens in Cambodia, while also apprehending suspects and bringing them to justice.
Read more:
Human Rights Watch. (2025, January 16). World Report 2025: Cambodia.
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