Human Trafficking of Indonesian Citizens in Cambodia: Perspectives from Criminology, Victimology, and International Law

Abstract

Human trafficking involving Indonesian citizens in Cambodia demonstrates the complexity of transnational crime, which requires multidisciplinary analysis to understand the causal factors, patterns of victimization, and the effectiveness of law enforcement mechanisms. This study examines the practice of human trafficking against Indonesian citizens in Cambodia from the perspectives of criminology, victimology, and international law. Using qualitative methods with an empirical juridical approach, this study identifies a number of key issues, including recruitment methods based on job scams, the economic vulnerability of victims, weak cross-border surveillance, and limited law enforcement cooperation between Indonesia and Cambodia. The findings highlight the imbalance between the existing international legal framework and its implementation in the field, which is influenced by bureaucratic obstacles, a lack of inter-agency coordination, and the low capacity of destination countries to protect victims. This study recommends strengthening bilateral cooperation mechanisms, increasing law enforcement capacity, and expanding victim protection and recovery programs. The results of this study are expected to support more comprehensive and equitable efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking.