(as prepared for delivery)

• Your Excellency Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior and Permanent Vice Chairperson of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking
• Your Excellency Khem Bun Song, Governor of Siem Reap province
• Peter Williams, International Justice Mission’s Field Office Director
• Members of the Siem Reap Provincial Committee for Counter Trafficking
• Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I am very pleased to join all of you today for this important workshop. This event represents a unique opportunity to discuss both our successes as well as the challenges we still face in the fight against human trafficking. I would like to extend my gratitude to Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng and His Excellency Khem Bun Song, for their participation here in Siem Reap. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Winrock International and the International Justice Mission for their hard work on this effort. Together we can be proud of the work that we do in the areas of prevention, protection, and prosecution of this pressing transnational crime. 

Human trafficking is a global human rights challenge. It preys upon the vulnerable, breaks down the rule of law, and corrupts global commerce. There may be no challenge greater than the transnational crime of human trafficking which impacts millions of people worldwide each year including Cambodia.

The United States government cares deeply about countering trafficking in persons because it affects not just individuals and their families, but also communities and entire countries, regardless of their location or level of economic development. We know from experience around the world that strong coordination among government, civil society, and the private sector is critical to stop human trafficking. The Royal Government of Cambodia shares our concern and the National Committee for Counter Trafficking has provided the leadership and coordination needed to make real progress against human trafficking.  

The U.S. government - through USAID and other agencies - is among the largest donors combating trafficking-in-persons in Cambodia. Between 2006 and 2017, USAID spent almost $20 million to fight human trafficking. We support all four strategic pillars of the counter-trafficking response: prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. In October 2015, we awarded the four-year Cambodia Countering Trafficking in Persons project to Winrock International. This project aims to address the root causes of trafficking. It helps protect and assist victims who have been trafficked, strengthens local governance structures to address these crimes, and increases the likelihood of prosecution. We are hopeful that a better life at home will prevent them from moving great distances and into dangerous situations to provide for their families.

Today, we address the issue of human trafficking in Siem Reap province by strengthening our collaboration, sharing experiences, and finding different ways to tackle the problems we face. In June this year, our Mission Director joined Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng to congratulate police trainers on completing a training course co-organized by International Justice Mission and the Police Academy of Cambodia. Those police trainers had an opportunity to learn how to get evidence from witnesses, victims, and suspects. These are skills that will allow them to identify and prosecute human traffickers.

In closing, I would like to recognize, once again, the important progress the Cambodian government and its partners have made to combat human trafficking of all kinds. As many of you may know, this year Cambodia continues to remain on Tier 2 on the Department of State Annual Trafficking-in-Persons Report, meaning that it is making significant efforts to be in compliance with minimum standards for combatting trafficking in persons. We are committed to working closely with the government on this critical challenge in the months and years ahead. Our hope is that one day, when Cambodians migrate for better jobs, they can do so safely and legally, and work and live in dignity without fear of being trafficked.

Thank you very much.