Thirteen Pregnant Women Arrested in Cambodia

Thirteen pregnant Filipino women have been charged with illegal surrogacy in Cambodia, following their recruitment online, and may face imprisonment after giving birth. During a police raid on September 23, authorities discovered 24 foreign women, including 20 from the Philippines and four from Vietnam, in a villa in Kandal province. The women were charged under Cambodia's updated law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, which banned commercial surrogacy in 2016 as the country became a hub for affordable surrogacy services. The case is notable as it involves women being transported for surrogacy, a practice typically conducted within their home countries. Cambodian authorities, led by Interior Ministry Secretary Chou Bun Eng, claim the women conspired with organizers to sell the babies, despite concerns about their victimization. The investigation continues, with details about those organizing the surrogacy scheme still unclear.