Not a single case of human trafficking had occurred at the Thai-Cambodian border this year, the governor of Poipet said during a bilateral meeting to mark the sixth National Anti-Human Trafficking Day yesterday.

More than 1,200 Cambodian and Thai officials attended the gathering, where Poipet governor Ngor Meng Chroun announced that human trafficking across the border was under control this year.

“There was no single case of human trafficking found this year,” he said. Last year, local authorities investigated two cases of human trafficking and detained two men.

Meng Chroun added that the aim of the meeting was to further promote awareness of human trafficking and to combat sexual exploitation of women and children crossing the border through law enforcement.

Suong Sopheap, Banteay Meanchey provincial regional manager of the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center, agreed that the problem of human trafficking and exploitation along the Thai-Cambodian border was lessening, but disputed the low figures provided by the government.

Last year, Sopheap’s centre took in 50 women who said they were victims of human trafficking.

This year, it has received 20 women.

As well as strong co-operation between the two governments, he called for improved education to combat trafficking.

To contact the reporter on this story: Vong Sokheng at [email protected]