UNODC Awareness Raising Campaign Launch #TrappedInScamCrime

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• Excellency Mok Chan Sothea, Secretary of State of the Office of the Council of Ministers and Deputy Chief of the Ad Hoc Commission on Combating Online Scams (CCOS);
• Your Excellencies, Ambassadors
• Ms. Kelly Geoghegan, Political Officer, Embassy of the United States of America in Cambodia
• Distinguished participants, esteemed colleagues, partners;
• Ladies and gentlemen;

Good morning,

On behalf of the United Nations Country Team in Cambodia, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the national launch of the regional awareness campaign on trafficking in persons for forced criminality in scam centres - #TrappedInScamCrime.

Today marks an important step forward in our collective efforts to confront this growing form of exploitation. This campaign, developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, in partnership with the International Justice Mission, the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and with support from META, reflects the power of collaboration. 

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Government of Cambodia, particularly the Ad Hoc Commission on Combating Online Scams for its leadership and engagement.

Over recent years, we have witnessed a troubling shift in the trafficking patterns. Organized criminal groups are exploiting digital technologies and social vulnerabilities to force thousands of people – women, men, and children – into scam operations. UN analysis shows this form of trafficking has grown rapidly across Southeast Asia, affecting victims from dozens of countries. Survivors report deception, coercion, violence, forced labour, and ill‑treatment – abuses that amount to slavery or servitude. Many were simply seeking employment, and most were recruited through people they trusted: family members, friends, co‑workers, or online acquaintances. 

This is not only a criminal justice challenge. It is fundamentally a human rights crisis. Addressing it requires that the rights, dignity, and protection of victims remain at the centre of our responses. Individuals deceived or coerced into scam operations must be recognized as victims of trafficking, not punished as perpetrators. The non‑punishment principle, enshrined in international frameworks, is essential to ensure survivors can safely seek help, access support, and rebuild their lives.

Yet the problem is not abating. Scam centres continue to expand, with larger compounds and new locations. People worldwide are being defrauded, and the number of trafficking victims is not decreasing. This reality underscores the urgency of prevention, protection, and accountability.

The #TrappedInScamCrime campaign embodies a survivor‑centered approach. From the outset, survivors have guided our understanding of recruitment, deception, and coercion. Their courage has shaped the tone and direction of this initiative. Campaign materials, available in nine languages including Khmer and English, will reach people where they are – on social media, at airports and border crossings, in schools and universities, and through trusted community actors.

Prevention also requires strengthened cooperation with technology companies and online platforms, whose services are often misused by traffickers for fraudulent recruitment. Consistent with international standards on business and human rights, companies have an important role to play in identifying and addressing risks of exploitation linked to their platforms.

Distinguished colleagues,

This campaign is about empowerment, prevention, and solidarity. It is about equipping individuals and families with clear information, helping communities recognize warning signs, and reaffirming our shared commitment to protect human rights.

I extend my sincere appreciation to the Government of Cambodia, UNODC, and all partners whose expertise and dedication made this initiative possible. Together, we can ensure these messages reach those most at risk and build a safer, more resilient region.

The launch of #TrappedInScamCrime is only the beginning. Let us move forward with determination to end trafficking for forced criminality and to uphold the rights and dignity of every person.

Thank you!

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