Social Issue
Cambodia is one of the countries with the highest rate of human trafficking , starvation and poverty in the world. Many International Organizations have been trying to help economic and social situation that Camobodia is going through.
Recently studies in Cambodia says human trafficking has increased similar with prices of food. Basically men, women and children are susceptible to this issue, both within and abroad of the country. In accordance with Tim Lith, coordinator of UN Internal Project on Human Trafficking, the main reason of this problem is that people feels the attraction of a better life and a secure income, so then finally they accept fall into the hands of trafficking networks.
Most Cambodians ends working in jobs like sweatshops, construction work on trawlers and in domestic service, mainly in Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. For Tim Lith, is difficult to estimate the number of people who suffer in this city and whose fate is being exploited as sex workers, but probably between 200 and 500 people in a month.
The problem is not only with the men population. There are also reports of women suffering human trafficking. For example, a few years ago there were few causes of women who were moved to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to become sex workers. Besides, many of them are forced to work in the sex industry.
Protection
The Cambodian Government operates two temporary shelters and collaborates with NGOs to assist in reintegration of victims. Law enforcement and immigration officials implement formal procedures to identify victims among vulnerable groups, such as girls in prostitution, and to refer them to provincial and municipal Departments of Social Affairs, where they are interviewed and referred to short- or long-term NGO shelters depending on their needs. Victims may file civil suits and pursue legal action against traffickers.
Prevention
The Cambodian government is raising awareness through posters, television, radio, and traditional local theater. In 2006, the police conducted an awareness raising campaign among 20,000 students in Seim Reap and 3,000 students in Phnom Penh.
Recommendations
The U.S. Department of State recommends that the Cambodia Government should pass and enact comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation and make greater efforts to prosecute and convict public officials who profit from or are involved in trafficking.