Image-Based Sexual Abuse Surges in Cambodia, Rights Group Warns

Women and girls in Cambodia are increasingly being threatened, coerced, and exploited through the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, with image-based sexual abuse becoming more common, according to a report by rights group Licadho. The group said it had documented 24 cases since 2021, more than one-third of them in the past year, and called for stronger government action. The group defines the abuse as the creation, distribution, or threatened distribution of intimate images without consent. Half of the survivors were girls ages 13 to 17, while alleged perpetrators included former partners, relatives, supervisors, and people they met online. In 10 cases, alleged perpetrators recorded rapes or gang rapes and later used the videos to threaten or coerce survivors, Licadho said. Other cases involved images obtained through online scams, the secret filming of children in private spaces, the nonconsensual recording of sexual activity, or the redistribution of images initially shared with consent. Am Sam Ath, Licadho’s operations director, said shame, victim-blaming, and limited awareness among authorities often deter survivors from reporting the abuse. “We have yet to see clear policies or public recognition that these acts constitute criminal offenses requiring legal action,” he said. Although Cambodia’s anti-human trafficking law, child protection legislation, and Criminal Code contain provisions that may apply in some cases, the abuse is still not broadly recognized as a crime, Sam Ath said. Bun Chhet Veasna, spokesperson for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Soth Peosamnang, an LGBTIQ+ rights advocate, urged authorities to improve public awareness, strengthen training for law enforcement, and ensure survivors have access to safe reporting mechanisms. Peosamnang also criticized some media outlets for using inappropriate language in coverage, saying it contributed to victim-blaming. Licadho said people experiencing image-based sexual abuse can contact the organization for confidential information about available support and legal options.