Despite steps to address growing issue, Cambodia sex trafficking still a problem

Samantha Stevens
Soc 202
Prof. Sills
08/30/07

U.S Federal News Service
Last month, U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice released the State Department's 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report. Despite efforts to still the commercialization of human trafficking, the country of Cambodia remains on the Tier Two list for Trafficking in Persons. The "list" has four tiers, with Tier Four noting the countries with the worst human trafficking problems, and Tier One listing the countries that have taken the strongest measures to prevent human trafficking. While Cambodia has taken "nascent steps" towards repairing this issue, this will be their second year on the Tier Two list. Suspicion of government complicity on human trafficking, as well as the country's failure to pass a "comprehensive" anti-trafficking law, contributed to the reasons for their Tier Two placement.
Cambodian men, women, and children are trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation, including child pornography. According to HumanTrafficking.org, the Cambodian police force arrested 65 people for human trafficking in 2006. 53 were convicted, with penalties ranging from 5 to 24 years of imprisonment. According to the same website, the government also prosecuted police officials to "trafficking-related corruption" charges.
In addition to their own human trafficking trade, Cambodia is also an important transit point for victims transported from Vietnam and Thailand.
Human trafficking is obviously a massive global social problem. While the Cambodian government says that it needs international support in order to quell the problem, it is ultimately up to their government to cut out corruption and complicity, and to impose ever-stricter penalties for criminals who engage in this horrendous crime. It is also important to set up support networks for survivors of human trafficking. Lastly, but not least, the Cambodian government must also cut out the "Sex Tourism" that brings many pedophiles and sexual deviants to the country, looking to exploit enslaved women and children.
While efforts to stop human trafficking should be applauded, much more attention must be lent to this growing global problem.