Cambodia Urges Joint Action Against Human Trafficking

PHNOM PENH, March 18, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s interior minister has called for nationwide cooperation to combat human trafficking, warning that criminal networks are exploiting vulnerable people with increasingly sophisticated methods.

Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha, who also serves as interior minister and chairs the National Committee for Counter Trafficking in Persons, told a conference in Phnom Penh that traffickers were luring victims with promises of lucrative jobs abroad and arranged marriages.

“Awareness is critical,” he said, urging authorities, civil society and the public to work together to educate citizens about the risks.

Officials said 272 trafficking-related cases were recorded in 2025, including 128 classified as trafficking offences. Police arrested 209 suspects and identified 609 victims, among them 60 children.

Permanent vice chair Chou Bun Eng said public education campaigns will be expanded in 2026 to help potential victims recognise scams and avoid risky migration.

Despite intensified enforcement, authorities acknowledged trafficking remains a persistent challenge as criminal groups adapt across borders and digital platforms.