Bangladeshi Survivor Evidence on Trafficking and Exploitation in Cambodian Cyber-Scam Compounds
Drawing on qualitative interviews with Bangladeshi survivors, this report reveals how promises of legitimate work led to trafficking, exploitation and lasting harm. The study traces the entire survivor journey – from recruitment and travel to exploitation in Cambodia, exit and return to Bangladesh.
The lived experiences of the survivors expose how those forced to conduct cyber-scams experienced some of the most extreme harms, whilst exploitation also extended across the wider compound economy, with other survivors having been forced to work in construction, restaurants and other areas of manual labour. For all survivors, significant debt was another defining feature of their experience, often with financial losses passed on to their families and continuing to affect their lives long after they returned home.
By centring survivors’ insights, the report highlights the lasting impact of exploitation and the need for stronger measures to prevent trafficking, protect those at risk and ensure survivors can recover and access justice.