Cambodia Warns Against Using Online Scams to Justify Sovereignty Violations
Cambodia has reiterated that efforts to combat online scams and transnational crime should not be used as a justification for actions that undermine the sovereignty or territorial integrity of another country.
Cambodian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva Ke Sovann made the remarks during a session of the UN Human Rights Council on September 11.
His comments came during an interactive dialogue concerning modern forms of slavery and human trafficking, issues that Cambodia described as increasingly difficult for individual countries to address alone.
According to Cambodia's position, combating online fraud requires international cooperation, but such cooperation should be carried out within the framework of international law.
Online Crime Is a Cross-Border Challenge
Ke Sovann said modern slavery, human trafficking and related criminal activities frequently cross national borders.
Because of this, he argued that no country can effectively address these problems by acting entirely on its own.
International cooperation can involve law-enforcement agencies, information sharing, victim protection and coordinated investigations.
Cambodia said it has continued implementing laws and national strategies aimed at combating transnational crime.
The ambassador also pointed to cooperation with international organizations and regional law-enforcement mechanisms as part of Cambodia's efforts.
Cambodia Says It Has Taken Action Against Criminal Networks
During his remarks, Ke Sovann said Cambodian authorities had conducted operations against criminal networks, rescued thousands of victims and arrested suspects.
He cited cooperation with organizations including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL and regional law-enforcement cooperation mechanisms.
Such cooperation reflects the increasingly international nature of online fraud networks, which can involve victims, operators, financial transactions and digital infrastructure spread across several countries.
Cambodia said it welcomes closer cooperation with international partners in tackling these activities.
Phnom Penh Plans International Online Scam Conference
Cambodia also announced plans to host an international conference focused on combating online scams.
According to the statement provided in the source article, the conference is scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh on September 23 and 24, 2026.
The event is intended to contribute to broader international efforts against online fraud and related forms of transnational crime.
The initiative comes as governments around the world face growing challenges from scams conducted through digital platforms, including fraudulent investment schemes, impersonation, social-engineering attacks and other forms of online deception.
Cambodia Emphasizes International Law
While supporting international cooperation, Cambodia stressed that measures taken against transnational crime must comply with international law.
Ke Sovann argued that efforts to combat online scams should not be misused as a justification for actions that violate another state's sovereignty or territorial integrity.
His comments reflect Cambodia's broader emphasis on the principle that relations between states should be governed by international rules rather than by differences in military, political or economic power.
The Cambodian representative referred to the principles of sovereign equality and respect for territorial integrity as important elements of international relations.
Peaceful Dispute Resolution Remains a Key Message
The remarks followed another intervention by Ke Sovann at the UN on September 9, when he called for disputes to be addressed through peaceful means.
He emphasized the importance of respecting state sovereignty, honoring international agreements and avoiding threats or the use of force.
According to Cambodia's position, these principles are directly connected to human rights because civilians are often among the first groups to suffer when tensions between states escalate.
The Cambodian representative therefore called for dialogue and negotiation to remain central to resolving disputes.
Cambodia Promotes Dialogue and Mediation
Cambodia said parties involved in disputes should make use of peaceful mechanisms such as:
Dialogue
Negotiation
Mediation
Reconciliation
These mechanisms, according to the Cambodian position, should not automatically be viewed as confrontational.
Instead, they can provide channels for reducing tensions and finding solutions that are sustainable and acceptable to the parties involved.
Cambodia argued that diplomatic mechanisms can help prevent disputes from escalating while creating opportunities for longer-term agreements.
The Challenge of Balancing Security and Sovereignty
The issue highlights a difficult challenge facing governments dealing with transnational online crime.
Scam networks can operate across borders, making international cooperation essential. At the same time, law-enforcement actions involving another country's territory or institutions raise questions about jurisdiction, sovereignty and international legal obligations.
For Cambodia, the principle is that cooperation against criminal networks should strengthen international security without weakening the legal protections governing relations between states.
This approach places international cooperation and respect for sovereignty alongside each other rather than treating them as competing objectives.
Why International Cooperation Matters
Online scams are not limited to a single country.
A fraudulent operation may target victims in one country, use personnel from another, move money through multiple jurisdictions and rely on digital infrastructure located elsewhere.
This makes coordinated action increasingly important.
International cooperation can help authorities identify criminal networks, trace financial transactions, share intelligence, protect victims and bring suspected offenders before the appropriate legal authorities.
At the same time, Cambodia argues that such cooperation should be based on clearly established legal frameworks and mutual respect between states.
Cambodia Seeks a Broader International Response
Cambodia's upcoming conference in Phnom Penh is expected to provide an opportunity for governments and relevant organizations to discuss ways of strengthening international cooperation against online scams.
The country's message at the UN combines two priorities: stronger action against transnational criminal networks and continued respect for international law.
As digital crime becomes increasingly international, governments face the challenge of developing effective cooperation mechanisms without creating new disputes over jurisdiction or sovereignty.
For Cambodia, maintaining that balance is an important part of its diplomatic position.
Conclusion
Cambodia has called for stronger international cooperation against online scams, human trafficking and other forms of transnational crime while emphasizing that such efforts must respect international law.
At the UN Human Rights Council, Ambassador Ke Sovann argued that combating online fraud should not become a pretext for actions that undermine another state's sovereignty or territorial integrity.
Cambodia's planned international conference on online scams in Phnom Penh later this month is expected to provide another platform for discussing coordinated responses to the growing threat.
The broader message from Cambodia is clear: international cooperation against crime should go hand in hand with respect for sovereignty, peaceful dispute resolution and the principles of international law.
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