The Brunei Times
PHNOM PENH
Thursday, December 4, 2008
GERMANY'S ambassador to Cambodia yesterday called on the Cambodian government to step up measures against human trafficking to combat exploitation of the country's poorest citizens. Ambassador Frank Marcus Mann said at a press conference in Phnom Penh the German government supported Cambodian efforts to curb the growing number of people being trafficked in the country and urged the government to adopt new anti-abduction laws.
"Because Cambodia is a signatory to international conventions to fight abduction we want to see Cambodia's parliament take action and pass new anti-abduction laws," he said. Ambassador Mann also said the German government supported Cambodian efforts to arrest and convict German citizens guilty of engaging in human trafficking crimes.
The ambassador was joined at the press conference by Cambodian human rights advocate Somaly Mam, who was awarded the Roland Berger Human Dignity Award in Berlin in November for her fight against human trafficking.
Somaly Mam, who received 1 million euros ($1.93 million) as part of the award, warned that human trafficking could increase in Cambodia due to the international financial crisis and higher rates of poverty and unemployment.
"The government and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) need to work together to protect women and children and lead them away from exploitation," Somaly Mam said.
"This award is not for me. It is for the Cambodian people, and the money I have received will go towards fighting human trafficking in Cambodia," she added.
Rights groups say human trafficking is becoming more prevalent in Cambodia, where thousands of men, women and children every year are reportedly forced into sexual exploitation and unpaid labour through coercion and deception.
In 2007 Cambodia was listed in the US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Watch List Report.
DPA
PHNOM PENH
Thursday, December 4, 2008
GERMANY'S ambassador to Cambodia yesterday called on the Cambodian government to step up measures against human trafficking to combat exploitation of the country's poorest citizens. Ambassador Frank Marcus Mann said at a press conference in Phnom Penh the German government supported Cambodian efforts to curb the growing number of people being trafficked in the country and urged the government to adopt new anti-abduction laws.
"Because Cambodia is a signatory to international conventions to fight abduction we want to see Cambodia's parliament take action and pass new anti-abduction laws," he said. Ambassador Mann also said the German government supported Cambodian efforts to arrest and convict German citizens guilty of engaging in human trafficking crimes.
The ambassador was joined at the press conference by Cambodian human rights advocate Somaly Mam, who was awarded the Roland Berger Human Dignity Award in Berlin in November for her fight against human trafficking.
Somaly Mam, who received 1 million euros ($1.93 million) as part of the award, warned that human trafficking could increase in Cambodia due to the international financial crisis and higher rates of poverty and unemployment.
"The government and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) need to work together to protect women and children and lead them away from exploitation," Somaly Mam said.
"This award is not for me. It is for the Cambodian people, and the money I have received will go towards fighting human trafficking in Cambodia," she added.
Rights groups say human trafficking is becoming more prevalent in Cambodia, where thousands of men, women and children every year are reportedly forced into sexual exploitation and unpaid labour through coercion and deception.
In 2007 Cambodia was listed in the US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Watch List Report.
DPA
No comments:
Post a Comment