The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Aug. 16 announced a new initiative to support Cambodia’s criminal justice responders investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes.

According to a USAID’s press release AKP received this afternoon, the new initiative – to be overseen by the International Justice Mission (IJM) – is a part of USAID’s Cambodia Countering Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) activity, implemented by Winrock International. CTIP works in partnership with the Cambodian government, the private sector, and civil society to protect Cambodians from human trafficking.

“Our countering trafficking in persons work, in partnership with IJM, will ease the suffering of human trafficking victims and help bring perpetrators to justice,” said Benjamin Wohlauer, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. “We are proud to assist the Cambodian government’s efforts in the fight against human trafficking.”

IJM will build on USAID’s CTIP activity, in collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia, to improve services to and protection of identified trafficking victims.

The United States continues to work with stakeholders in Cambodia to strengthen efforts to monitor private labour recruitment for trafficking indicators as well as to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent human trafficking, it added.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press