KhmerTimes/AFP-Oct 14, 2024
Thirteen pregnant women from the Philippines could face prison terms in Cambodia after being arrested for their involvement in illegal surrogacy. The women were recruited online and found in a villa during a police raid in Kandal province. On September 23, a police raid on a villa in Kandal province revealed 24 foreign women, 20 of whom were from the Philippines and four from Vietnam. Thirteen of the Philippine women were found to be pregnant and charged on October 1 under the law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation. While the non-pregnant women will be deported, the pregnant women are currently under care at a hospital in Phnom Penh. Cambodian authorities have charged them under laws against human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Cambodia became a popular destination for surrogacy after neighboring Thailand tightened regulations on the practice. Additionally, countries like Nepal and India also implemented stricter rules regarding surrogacy. As a result, prospective parents turned to Cambodia due to lower costs compared to the United States and Australia, where surrogacy services can cost up to $150,000. However, in 2016, Cambodia banned commercial surrogacy, causing surrogacy businesses to operate underground. Cambodia already faced a negative reputation for human trafficking, especially concerning online scams that involve foreign nationals being tricked into forced labor or criminal activities. The recent surrogacy case adds to this troubled image, as details of the operations and individuals involved remain unclear. Authorities have yet to identify the business responsible for recruiting the surrogates. Read more at: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501573363/cambodia-cracks-down-on-surrogacy-thirteen-filipino-women-facing-prison/
