Almost 100 Cambodian women have been rescued from China in 2025. FB
Since the beginning of the year, Chinese authorities have repatriated a total of 98 Cambodian victims of human trafficking – 97 of them women and girls – in 42 cases.
According to an April 22 statement from the General Department of Immigration (GDI), 59 of the victims have returned to their homes in the Kingdom, while 37 are being taken care of by the Department of Victim Protection and Juvenile Protection, under the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation.
Two victims were transferred to the Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation in Svay Rieng province.
The statement also refuted claims circulating on social media which allege that immigration officers at Phnom Penh International Airport were preventing Cambodian citizens, particularly women marrying and moving to China or seeking employment abroad, from leaving the country.
The spokesperson clarified that the GDI does not restrict the freedom of Cambodians to travel abroad but has implemented measures to combat human trafficking, such as conducting interviews to ascertain an individual’s reasons for leaving Cambodia.
During the same period, authorities at the Kingdom’s international border checkpoints prevented 107 individuals (82 female) suspected of involvement in human trafficking from leaving the country, across 52 cases. Of them, 93 were Cambodian citizens.
At Phnom Penh International Airport, the authorities stopped 75 individuals (55 females) in 36 suspected human trafficking cases, with 65 being Cambodian citizens.
Among the Cambodians, only three were allowed to return home, while the rest were referred to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department or police for further investigation.
“Interviewing and prohibiting certain Cambodian citizens, especially women marrying foreigners or intending to work abroad, from travelling is not about restricting their freedom to marry foreigners or preventing them from working overseas, as some public misconceptions have suggested,” emphasized the statement.
It explained that the measures aim to prevent and combat human trafficking and labour exploitation, particularly when it targets women and children, while protecting Cambodian citizens from being deceived by brokers.
“The General Department of Immigration urges all Cambodian citizens to exercise high caution against various deceptive tactics and enticements used by brokers and human trafficking criminals in all forms and through all means,” added the statement.
