Cambodian and Chinese officials collaborated to assist a 20-year-old woman after she requested help from Prime Minister Hun Sen on Facebook. Police
Cambodian and Chinese officials collaborated to assist a 20-year-old woman after she requested help from Prime Minister Hun Sen on Facebook.
The Ministry of Interior’s Anti-Human Trafficking Department reported on December 2 it received the news from the National Police Quick Reaction Unit on November 30.
Hailing from Kratie province, Thuok Sophy claimed she was trapped by an abusive husband while in China.
“I request all brothers and sisters to share this so that those working in human rights and police can help me. I was deceived and forced to get married. If I don’t get married, I was told I will be sold as a prostitute.
“My phone has no sim card and I can only text. Please help me reach human rights officials and Prime Minister Hun Sen so I can have freedom.
“I am not allowed to go out of the house or speak with my family. I have no rights. I was deceived in China in Henan province and I am under duress. I am forced to get pregnant soon,” the Facebook post read.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reported that Sophy was rescued by Henan provincial police.
The police also reported the news to the Cambodian embassy in Beijing, which is currently working with Chinese authorities to send her back to Cambodia.
The Kratie provincial deputy police chief in charge of anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection, Nov Ratana, told The Post on December 2 the victim is from Sre Ches commune, in Kratie province’s Sambor district. Her mother asked the provincial police to help on November 29 and also filed a complaint to the department of anti-trafficking and juvenile protection.
Meas Sa Im, deputy head of women’s and children’s affairs at rights group Adhoc, said her organisation has cooperated with relevant institutions this year help five women return from China.
Sa Im said the main reason Cambodian women end up trapped in China is poverty. They are deceived to go abroad because of family violence or illness or it is hard to find job in the area where they live.
“Some women have skills, but they are not able to find job in their community. They then find jobs in other provinces or Phnom Penh,” she said.
Im said that from January to November, Adhoc assisted in 39 cases of women who were forced to get married abroad.
