Phnom Penh: On the morning of Thursday, February 12, 2026, His Excellency Keng Somarith, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, presided over the opening ceremony of the Partner Review and Reflection Workshop for the ASEAN-Australia Counter-Trafficking (ASEAN-ACT) Program. H.E. Keng Somarith participated on behalf of His Excellency Keut Rith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice.
The workshop, held at the Sun & Moon Hotel, was organized in line with the spirit of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Justice and the ASEAN-ACT Program. The initiative aims to bolster the capacity and efficiency of Cambodia’s legal and judicial institutions in combating human trafficking—a priority under both national law and the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP).
The event saw wide-ranging participation from key governmental and institutional stakeholders, including Her Excellency Sun Sokhalida, Delegate of the Royal Government and Director General of the General Department of Prosecutions and Criminal Affairs, representatives from ASEAN-ACT, and representatives from critical enforcement and policy bodies. These included the Ministry of Interior, the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, the National Police, the Royal Academy for Judicial Professions of Cambodia, and several national and international organizations.
The workshop focused on two primary objectives: 1) To review and reflect on the activities of the ASEAN-ACT program, gather partner perspectives on program quality, and assess progress toward achieving medium-term outcomes. 2) To present and share critical achievements realized from July to December 2025, and discuss operational challenges encountered during implementation. This comprehensive review process is vital for ensuring that regional cooperation translates into effective, legally sound, and victim-centered judicial outcomes in the fight against trafficking in persons.
