Synopsis: National authorities dispute the latest US Trafficking in Persons Report, citing substantial counter-trafficking measures and crackdowns on online scam compounds.
Cambodia has expressed unhappiness over its fifth consecutive Tier 3 ranking in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report by the United States Department of State, saying the assessment failed to recognise government efforts to combat human trafficking.
In a statement issued yesterday, the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) said the US assessment did not fully reflect Cambodia’s political will, enforcement measures and achievements in tackling human trafficking and related crimes.
The NCCT, which serves as the government’s operational mechanism for combating trafficking, said it is regrettable that its efforts over several years had not been evaluated, adding that the ranking does not represent the work undertaken by authorities on the ground.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia expresses its profound dissatisfaction with these evaluation results,” the statement said.
The government said it remained committed to combating all forms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation through law enforcement and the implementation of the Palermo Protocol, which provides a framework for investigating trafficking crimes, identifying victims and prosecuting perpetrators.
The NCCT said Cambodia has implemented an operational plan since 2022 to intensify nationwide crackdowns on human trafficking, with priority areas identified through complaints and reports submitted via official government websites and police hotlines.
The statement said the government’s campaign targeted online scam operations closely connected to human trafficking and transnational organised crime.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, authorities have conducted operations against scam activities at identified locations across the country, rescuing individuals, shutting down illegal scam compounds and removing criminal suspects of various nationalities from the premises.
The NCCT said authorities conducted identification procedures to distinguish genuine trafficking victims from criminal suspects, including ringleaders of syndicates.
Key organisers and accomplices in transnational criminal networks, including Cambodian nationals and foreigners, have also been arrested and brought to court, it added.
To strengthen the legal framework for enforcement, the Law on Combating Online Scams was adopted and promulgated in April.
The statement said online scam operations remained a complex challenge, and added that thousands of foreign nationals had entered Cambodia to organise criminal activities and lure people into scam operations.
It said the problem could not be addressed by Cambodia alone, given the transnational nature of scam networks and their use of high technology.
On victim protection, the NCCT said the government continued to work with civil society organisations to provide assistance in accordance with legal principles and established standards, without discrimination based on gender, nationality, skin colour, tradition or culture.
It added that victims received essential services, rehabilitation, repatriation and reintegration support,
The government said cooperation with regional and international organisations, specialised agencies and diplomatic missions had strengthened information sharing, joint investigations, financial tracking and victim rescue operations.
Despite progress in enforcement operations, the NCCT said challenges and gaps remained as criminal networks attempted to operate through smaller-scale scams and covert locations.
The government said it would maintain administrative measures, encourage public participation in monitoring suspicious activities and continue operations to eliminate remaining criminal networks.
Cambodia said it remained committed to tackling human trafficking, particularly trafficking linked to online scams, and called on countries across the region and the world to strengthen cooperation and share responsibility in addressing the threat.
The NCCT said online scams had evolved into a form of transnational organised crime, causing serious harm to people worldwide and presenting a challenge that no single country had yet eradicated.
It said the international community should work collectively to protect human safety, uphold human dignity and strengthen global security.
Policy analyst Seun Sam at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) said the Cambodian government has demonstrated dedication to eliminating human trafficking and exploitation.
“I believe both the United States and Cambodia have not yet identified a core common ground to collaborate fruitfully,” Sam said.
The analyst said South Korea has proved to be an outstanding partner, choosing not to criticise but to work together with Cambodia to eradicate scams.
“Rather than merely criticising and faulting Cambodia, the United States should offer full support in the same manner, given Cambodia’s limited capacity and its genuine will to eradicate human trafficking and exploitation alongside America’s technological prowess,” Sam said.
“If the US truly wants Cambodia to resolve this issue comprehensively, it must provide budget, technical assistance and multifaceted support rather than simply levelling criticism – which changes nothing – and only if Cambodia were to reject such requested cooperation would further criticism be warranted.”
