Ministry creates plan for repatriation of human trafficking victims

The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) on Friday held an event for the launch of the “Standard Operating Procedures on Repatriation of Suspected Victims and Victim of Human Trafficking by Aircraft to Cambodia,” aiming to reduce and eliminate human trafficking.

Nhek Vannara, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Social Affairs, said the operational procedures covers the cases of victims and suspected victims of human trafficking, who are initially identified in the destination country and are to be repatriated.

He explained that the procedure also covers the repatriation of victims and suspected victims of human trafficking from abroad by air to Cambodia.

He noted that the event was held to inform all relevant parties about the official implementation of this procedure, which is another new development and achievement of the ministry in partnership with non-governmental organisations in establishing standardise procedures to assist victims of human trafficking who are repatriated by air.

He added that the government has launched the National Strategic Plan on Combatting Human Trafficking (2024-2028), which is a roadmap and reference document for all ministries and institutions, to prepare an action plan to respond to and combat all forms of human trafficking over the next five years, with the goal of gradually reducing and eliminating human trafficking, promoting respect for human rights, and the dignity of humanity.

Director-General of the ministry’s department of Social Services, Din Borey, said that they and NGO Rattanak International have collaborated and organised meetings to review and discuss the draft of this procedure since 2021, which now has been successfully achieved.

Meanwhile, The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training attended a Cambodia-Thailand bilateral meeting on preparing an action plan for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on “Bilateral Cooperation to Eliminate Human Trafficking and Assist Victims of Trafficking, Phase 2, 2025-2028,” on January 29-30 in Siem Reap province.

The Cambodian delegation was led by Hou Vuthy, Secretary of State of Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and their Thai counterparts, by Jatuporn Rojanaparnich, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand.

According to the ministry, the two sides deliberated on initiatives aimed at reinforcing cooperation and drafting an action plan for the implementation of the MoU between the two governments, concerning the bilateral collaboration to eradicate human trafficking and support victims of trafficking.

They are focussing on several key objectives, such as the implementation mechanism of the action plan for combatting human trafficking. Situation analysis and assessment of necessary needs in combatting human trafficking. Strengthening cooperation on measures to prevent and combat human trafficking. Continuing to strengthen cooperation on the protection, promotion of the rights, repatriation and reintegration of victims and continuing to strengthen cooperation on the suppression of human trafficking.