The Khmer Migrants And Trafficking Victims From Cambodia To Vietnam

Degree Name

MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management

First Advisor

Tatsushi Arai

Abstract

This study takes a close look at the situation in which Cambodians are forced to beg in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. This paper was based on the experiences of Cambodians who were trafficked, forced to go to Vietnam as beggars and who were captured by Vietnamese authorities, held in the detention centers, and forcefully returned to Cambodia. I sought to determine the motivation and background causes for their migration and trafficking phenomena through interviews, review of relevant documents and reports, and from personal observations. A variety of factors are analyzed within including the characteristics of these Cambodians, the causes for their migration and circumstances leading to their trafficking to Vietnam, their living and working conditions in both their place of destination, HCMC, Vietnam, and their place of origin, Svay Rieng province, Cambodia, and the challenges of their return and reintegration into their community and family. This paper seeks to determine and to understand the real situation of these Cambodians and their real problems or challenges that they are facing. Accordingly, recommendations will be made to improve the return and reintegration program for these Cambodians.

Findings show that most of these Cambodian migrants and trafficking victims are women and children. Most of these children, even as young as several months of age, are being exploited by their parents, siblings, and relatives. They have very limited, if any, access to health care services, education, or financial assistance. Their poverty in Cambodia has forced this trafficking and migration to occur. More seriously, most of them feel excluded from their community when they are returned to their home country. Recommendations include providing financial assistance for the poor families in their communities in Svay Rieng, creating social activities for the Khmer detainees while they are being detained in the SAC, and training and raising awareness about the migration and trafficking issues to the Cambodian families.

Disciplines

Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Welfare

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