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Conferences and conventions

United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime to Combat Human Trafficking and Online Fraud

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime is expected to provide a robust legal framework for countries to combat human trafficking and online fraud, while safeguarding individual rights, particularly those of migrants. According to Kendra Rinas, Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Vietnam, cybercrime is increasingly being used to facilitate human trafficking, online scams, and the exploitation of migrants. The IOM's Regional Situation Report on Trafficking in Persons into Forced Criminality in Online Scamming Centres shows a significant increase in victims, with 1,093 cases reported in 2025, more than triple the number in 2022. The victims are often young, educated individuals deceived into conducting cyber scams.

Key Takeaways:

  • The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime aims to provide a robust legal framework for countries to combat human trafficking and online fraud, while safeguarding individual rights.
  • Cybercrime is increasingly being used to facilitate human trafficking, online scams, and the exploitation of migrants, particularly in Southeast Asia.
  • The IOM's Regional Situation Report on Trafficking in Persons into Forced Criminality in Online Scamming Centres shows a significant increase in victims, with 1,093 cases reported in 2025, more than triple the number in 2022.
  • Victims of human trafficking are often young, educated individuals deceived into conducting cyber scams, with half of them being high school graduates and the rest being university graduates.
  • Traffickers are adapting fast, operating across borders and bypassing traditional face-to-face interactions, stressing the need for public awareness to combat these evolving tactics.
  • IOM Vietnam applies the "4Ps approach" - Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership - to address human trafficking challenges.
  • Since 2018, IOM has supported 904 survivors of trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations through the Tackling Modern Slavery in Vietnam (TMSV) project.
  • In 2023, IOM helped 121 Vietnamese nationals return from cyber scam compounds in Cambodia and Myanmar, working with authorities and NGO partners to support the Government's counter-trafficking response.

Statistics:

  • 1,093: The number of victims forced into criminal activity and supported by IOM in Southeast Asia in 2025, more than triple the number in 2022 (296).
  • 904: The number of survivors of trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations supported by IOM through the Tackling Modern Slavery in Vietnam (TMSV) project since 2018.
  • 121: The number of Vietnamese nationals returned from cyber scam compounds in Cambodia and Myanmar in 2023 by IOM, working with authorities and NGO partners.

Sources:

  • Vietnam News Agency
  • International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
  • Regional Situation Report on Trafficking in Persons into Forced Criminality in Online Scamming Centres
  • Tackling Modern Slavery in Vietnam (TMSV) project
  • "Think Before You Go" campaign
  • "ThinkB4UClick" initiative

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