Trafficking Efforts Improving: US

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh 05 June 2008

Khmer audio aired 5 June 2008 (843 KB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired 5 June 2008 (843 KB) - Listen (MP3)

Cambodia does not fully comply with US standards on curbing human trafficking, but it has doen enough in the past year to be taken off a "watch list," officials said Thursday.

In the US State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons report, Cambodia was upgraded to "tier 2" status.

Cambodia "is making significant efforts" to comply with minimum standards, according to the report. Cambodia has not enjoyed "tier 2" status since 2004, but was raised due to "increased engagement in combating trafficking in persons over the previous year," the report says.

Interior Minister Sar Kheng said he appreciated the evaluation on human trafficking, and he said the government planned to do more in the future to curb the illegal practice.