PHNOM PENH, September 26, 2024 — A forum focusing on digital tools to combat online crimes against children in Cambodia, hosted by the Child Protection (Unit), opens today (25 September) in Phnom Penh.

The International Judicial Police Forum brings together judicial police, the Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia, a cross-section of ministry judicial staff, and international industry experts to discuss and address the challenges posed by online crimes against children.

More than 60 police officers mainly from Phnom Penh and Kandal will attend the three-day forum at Hotel Cambodiana, which will cover a wide range of topics, from digital forensics and online evidence gathering to effective interviewing and the care of children victims in the judicial system.

The forum will highlight the importance of leveraging technology to bring perpetrators to justice while protecting the innocent.

Renowned experts from Australia, the UK, and the U.S. will share their knowledge, including former Australian Federal Circuit Court Chief Judge John Pascoe and speakers from the United States Homeland Security and the Internet Watch Foundation, a global UK-registered charity working to make the internet a safer place.

Cyacomb, a UK-founded company, will also present an overview of their forensic software tools, which allow law enforcement to find evidence of child abuse activity on suspect’s devices up to 100 times quicker than traditional methods.

The Cyacomb tools offer rapid digital triage at every stage of the investigative process, from suspect device examination to evidence management.

“Online child sex offending is a global issue, and Cambodia is a part of the global policing community that is combatting these crimes. This forum aims to enhance their skills and make them aware of technologies that can assist them in the challenging field of combatting online crimes against children,” said James McCabe, CPU’s Director of Operations.

In a speech to the Forum, James McCabe said: “In a changing world we must be dynamic to adapt to the threats on emerging fronts. This International Judicial Police Forum is an opportunity to lay foundations, whether ensuring police officers having the knowledge and skills to hand down offenders and bring them to justice, or giving victims the support they need within the criminal justical system.

“Internet and child exploitation crimes can be complex and can occur anywhere in the world. Obtaining knowledge on how to investigate such crimes and building an understanding of the extent of these crimes can assist in the detection and apprehension of persons who commit such crimes.”

Cambodian Deputy National Police Commissioner Moung Sothea emphasized the benefits of collaborative working between the Child Protection Unit (CPU) and Cambodian National Police to protect children, the most vulnerable in society.

“This is a platform for sharing experiences and lessons learned from both sides, so that we can learn from each other,” said HE Moung Sothea.

Set up in 2013, the CPU is a unique collaboration between NGO Cambodian Children's Fund

(CCF) and the Cambodian National Police to investigate all serious crimes against children in Cambodia and Southeast Asia and bring offenders to justice.

In 2019, the CPU formed the first specialist unit in Cambodia to tackle the growing threat of cyber-crimes against children, such as the distribution of child sexual abuse material.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) has since investigated around 118 investigations into internet crimes against children.

Nick Rose, Deputy Director of the CPU and a former Australian federal police officer, heads up the ICAC team. As Cambodia’s first dedicated strike force set up to combat internet-based crimes against children, ICAC is at the forefront of tackling online child abuse in Cambodia and the region.

“This forum will further promote awareness of a range of approaches for investigating technology-enabled and online crimes. It also aims to increase digital literacy, skills, and knowledge of digital forensics. This will assist with the investigation of all crime types.

“Importantly, it will demonstrate current and emerging investigative methods that Cambodian law enforcement agencies can utilise to collaborate with international efforts whilst concurrently supporting domestic capabilities,” said Nick Rose.

The forum will empower Cambodian law enforcement and emphasise the need for collaboration to enhance efforts to combat internet use to commit offences, and keep children safe.

For more information, please contact:

James McCabe

Director of Operations, Child Protection Unit

Email: james.mccabe@childprotectionunit.org