Background
The Ministry of Interior released an operational guidance book that establishes standardized procedures for identifying victims of human trafficking and coordinating protective services across relevant Cambodian authorities. The Ministry of Interior’s guidance establishes standardized procedures for identifying victims of human trafficking to direct them to protective and rehabilitative services.
The document is organized in three parts covering the government’s commitment and scope, the legal and evidentiary elements for recognising trafficking victims, and detailed procedures for initial identification and referral. The guidance delineates procedures for identifying Cambodian victims inside and outside Cambodia as well as foreign victims found in Cambodia.
Scope of Application
The guidance applies to initial identification, referral, and coordination roles performed by law enforcement, social service agencies, health providers, and designated victim service organisations. It sets separate procedural tracks for: (1) Cambodian victims identified within Cambodia, (2) foreign victims located in Cambodia, and (3) Cambodian victims identified abroad who require consular or repatriation support.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The guidance is structured in three principal sections: an opening section that records the government’s commitment, mandate holders, and the basic framework for initial identification; an analytical section that describes the constituent elements of human trafficking and the criteria for determining victim status; and a procedural section that specifies step-by-step measures for identification, referral, and service delivery.
Main procedural elements described include: standardized initial screening processes, referral pathways to health (physical and mental) and social services, legal assistance and protection measures, coordination protocols among agencies, and provisions for reintegration and repatriation. The guidance also highlights the need for prior training of officials and service providers before practical implementation.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Although primarily targeted at public agencies and service providers, the guidance establishes compliance expectations for organisations that may encounter trafficking cases, such as hospitals, NGOs, and private sector actors engaged in recruitment or transportation services. Entities involved in frontline response are expected to adopt the identification procedures, maintain confidentiality of victim information, and engage in mandated referral channels when a potential victim is identified.
Official Source
The guidance was officially launched on 10 August 2026 at the Ministry of Interior under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Samdek Aphisitbandit S. Sokha. The publication credits technical collaboration across ministries and institutions and support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Primary sources: National Police of Cambodia social post and the Ministry of Interior publication at https://police.gov.kh/?p=182419.
