"Provinces urged to resolve 850 pending human trafficking cases", 10 April 2023

Minister of Interior Sar Kheng has instructed relevant authorities to speed up resolution of pending human trafficking cases as it badly affects the reputation of the country.

As of now, a total of 850 cases filed by victims of human trafficking at the Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kandal, Kampong Speu, Kampot, Koh Kong, Pursat, Pailin, Svay Rieng, Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey, are pending to be settled.

Kheng said, “If complaints related to human trafficking are not resolved on time, we will not be able to wipe out this menace in the near future. If the cases continue and remain unresolved, it will give a bad impression about the country.”

The minister also instructed provincial authorities to take care of the cases filed from their provinces so that there won’t be any backlog.

Kheng added that human trafficking is not a small matter and it will deter tourists from visiting and stop local and international investors from doing business in the country…

Chou Bun Eng, secretary of state at the Ministry of Interior and permanent vice-chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) – said that the NCCT is committed to stopping human trafficking, especially along the border provinces.

Bun Eng added that the 850 complaints were for intervention to rescue victims of cross border human trafficking, although all of them are not directly involved with human trafficking…