Deputy Prime Minister and interior minister Sar Kheng addresses a meeting at his ministry on September 19. SAR KHENG VIA FACEBOOK
Minister of Interior Sar Kheng is to virtually hold the 16th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and related meetings on September 21-22.
“We will discuss the work programmes and action plans that have been set out in the past to define the direction for further implementation,” the Ministry of Interior announced on September 19.
The ASEAN ministers’ meeting is a forum for exchanging views and sharing updates on regional and global transnational crime trends, the ministry said.
Particular focus is placed on the 10 types of crime defined within the ASEAN cooperation framework – arms smuggling, terrorism, money laundering, piracy, human smuggling and trafficking, international economic crimes, cybercrimes, illicit drug trafficking, and illegal wildlife and timber trade.
The ministry will also chair the 12th ASEAN Plus Three – China, Japan, South Korea – Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC+3) Consultation.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) co-organised a workshop on September 14.
It was held to receive comments and inputs from main ministries and relevant NGOs to establish national-level standard procedures and mechanisms of sending victims of human trafficking and vulnerable immigrants.
“Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery – a grievous crime that causes long-term negative impacts on the victims and whole nations,” said Kristin Parco, chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration.
Cambodia hosted the 22nd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) and related meetings for three days from July 19-21 via video conference.
The SOMTC was a forum for senior officials from ASEAN member states to discuss work programmes and review previous action plans to set the direction of new initiatives.
