Phnom Penh (FN), July 1 – Cambodia is upgraded to Tier 2 status in the 2016 U.S. Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report, according to a Press Release of the U.S Embassy in Cambodia, issued on July 1st, 2016.

In a statement, the U.S Secretary of State John Kerry said Cambodia’s improved ranking this year reflective of significant efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia to combat human trafficking over the past year, the press release said.

The government began implementing the national action plan launched during the previous reporting period and allocated $500,000 to the interagency committee that leads Cambodia’s anti-trafficking efforts. National guidelines for the identification and referral of victims were finalized and local authorities identified 589 victims, an increase from 326 in the previous year, said the press release.

The 2016 report also notes the Cambodian government’s progress in prosecutions and convictions, particularly for labor trafficking offenses. In addition to highlighting these successes, the report also provides recommendations and identifies various areas for improvement in Cambodia’s efforts to combat modern slavery, according to the press release.
=FRESH NEWS