International politics, anti-trafficking measures and sex work in Cambodia

Sandy, Larissa

Abstract

Cambodia has long been identified as a human trafficking ‘hotspot’ (see Molland in this volume) and, after sustained pressure from the US and other governments, in February 2008 the Royal Government of Cambodia promulgated its Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation. It is patently obvious that Cambodia’s anti-trafficking legislation was expressly adopted in response to the US Government’s policy of eradication under sustained pressure from the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report and threat of economic and other sanctions. The passing of this law, which criminalizes sex work and equates it with human trafficking, saw sex workers arrested and brothels closed down across the country. Indeed, as a result of the new law, brothel raids and rescues have become the major form of intervention against trafficking in the country.

Citation

Sandy, L. (2012). International politics, anti-trafficking measures and sex work in Cambodia. In M. Ford, L. Lyons, & W. van Schendel (Eds.), Labour Migration and Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia : Critical Perspectives (41-56). Routledge

• Publication Date: 2012
• Deposit Date: Jun 29, 2023
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 41-56
• Book Title: Labour Migration and Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia : Critical Perspectives
• Chapter Number: 2
• ISBN: 9780415665636
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7349134
• Publisher URL: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203121535-3/international-politics-anti-trafficking-measures-sex-work-cambodia-larissa-sandy?context=ubx&refId=ef7e2d32-4520-45ad-8d36-cde973bb02c9