Canada Endorses Phnom Penh Declaration on Combating Online Scams

Canada has announced its support and endorsement of the Phnom Penh Declaration on Acting Together Towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams, the outcome document of the International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026). Canada announced its support and endorsement of the Declaration on Sept. 25, following the ICCOS-2026, hosted by Cambodia on Sept. 23-24. The Phnom Penh Declaration was adopted by participating delegates from 28 countries and seven international organisations. It sets out 11 key commitments aimed at strengthening international cooperation in combating online scams and related transnational criminal activities. The commitments call for concerted national, regional and international action, including strengthening international cooperation; breaking the criminal chain; disrupting and recovering criminal proceeds; leveraging technological innovation; strengthening policy, legal and regulatory frameworks; building capacity and resilience; deepening public-private partnerships; protecting trafficked victims and vulnerable persons; implementing the non-punishment principle for victims; preventing fraud and human trafficking; and dismantling online scam compounds and related infrastructure. The Declaration also underscores the importance of intelligence sharing, financial investigations, mutual legal assistance, capacity building and stronger cross-border law enforcement cooperation, while promoting public awareness and partnerships between governments and the private sector. Participating delegates pledged to translate these commitments into meaningful actions through strengthened cooperation, coordinated operational responses, effective partnerships, robust legal and institutional frameworks and sustained capacity building, with the ultimate aim of strengthening protection and support for victims. By C. Nika