Report on Slavery, Human Trafficking, and Torture in Cambodia’s Scamming Compounds

Overview

On 26 June 2025, Amnesty International published a comprehensive report titled “I Was Someone Else’s Property”, revealing widespread human rights abuses in Cambodia. The report highlights slavery, human trafficking, child labour, and torture occurring within over 50 scamming compounds across the country. These abuses are reportedly carried out by criminal gangs with apparent acquiescence from the Cambodian government.

Key Findings

1. Scale of the Crisis: At least 53 scamming compounds were identified, with 58 survivors from eight different nationalities interviewed, including nine children. Records of 336 additional victims were reviewed.
2. Nature of Abuses: Victims were trafficked under false pretenses of genuine employment and held in prison-like compounds. They were forced to conduct online scams as part of a billion-dollar shadow economy defrauding global victims.
3. Conditions in Compounds: Compounds were heavily secured with surveillance cameras, barbed wire, and armed security personnel. Survivors described escape as impossible.
4. Government Response: The Cambodian authorities have been criticized for ineffective and sometimes corrupt responses, indicating possible state complicity in the abuses.

Methods of Trafficking and Exploitation

• Victims were lured via deceptive job advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
• Once trafficked, victims were forced to engage in fraudulent activities including:
• Fake romantic relationships
• False investment schemes
• Non-delivery of sold products
• “Pig-butchering” tactics involving building trust to exploit victims financially

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This crisis directly undermines several Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 1 – No Poverty: The exploitation perpetuates poverty by trapping victims in forced labour and financial scams.
• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Torture and inhumane conditions severely impact physical and mental health.
• SDG 4 – Quality Education: Child victims are deprived of education and subjected to forced labour.
• SDG 5 – Gender Equality: Many victims, including women and children, face gender-based violence and exploitation.
• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Forced labour and trafficking violate the principles of decent work and economic rights.
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: The marginalized and vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by trafficking and exploitation.
• SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The report highlights the need for stronger governance, rule of law, and accountability to combat human rights abuses.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Amnesty International calls for urgent action to address this human rights crisis by:

• Strengthening government accountability and transparency in Cambodia.
• Enhancing international cooperation to dismantle criminal networks involved in trafficking and scamming.
• Protecting and supporting survivors through rehabilitation and legal assistance.
• Raising awareness globally about the scale and impact of these abuses in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article highlights forced labor, human trafficking, and exploitation in criminal enterprises, which directly relate to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The issues of human rights abuses, corruption, ineffective government response, and state complicity relate to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice, and building accountable institutions.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality – Although not explicitly mentioned, the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including children and potentially women, connects to ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The exploitation of marginalized groups and failure of authorities to protect victims relates to reducing inequalities within and among countries.
5. SDG 1: No Poverty – The deceptive job advertisements and trafficking for forced labor reflect underlying poverty and vulnerability issues.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 8 Targets:
   • Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
   • Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.
2. SDG 16 Targets:
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
3. SDG 5 Targets:
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation.
4. SDG 10 Targets:
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including protection against discrimination.
5. SDG 1 Targets:
   • Target 1.4: Ensure that all men and women have equal rights to economic resources, including access to decent work.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for Target 8.7: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, and number of victims of human trafficking identified and assisted.
2. Indicator for Target 8.8: Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, and compliance with labor rights standards.
3. Indicator for Target 16.2: Number of victims of human trafficking, abuse, exploitation, and torture, disaggregated by age and sex.
4. Indicator for Target 16.5: Proportion of persons who had at least one contact with a public official and who paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe.
5. Indicator for Target 5.2: Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner in the previous 12 months.
6. Indicator for Target 10.3: Proportion of population reporting discrimination or harassment based on various grounds.
7. Indicator for Target 1.4: Proportion of population living in households with access to basic services and secure tenure rights to land and property.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: business-humanrights.org