Cambodia cracks down on 104 human trafficking, sexual exploitation cases in H1

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) — Cambodia cracked down on 104 human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases in the first half of 2024, according to a National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) report on Saturday.
Twenty-two cases involved human trafficking and 82 cases were related to sexual exploitation during the January-June period this year, the report said, adding that during the crackdowns, the authorities had arrested a total of 134 suspects, including four foreigners.
“A total of 290 victims including 241 females had been rescued,” the report said, adding that 134, or 46 percent, of them were under the age of 18.
Interior Ministry’s Secretary of State Chou Bun Eng, who is also the NCCT’s permanent vice-chairwoman, said human trafficking cases were linked to crimes of fraud, labor disputes, illegal work, and illegal immigration, among others.
“The royal government will continue to do its best to eliminate all forms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in order to promote the respect for human rights, dignity and social justice,” she said. ■