UNITED NATIONS: Hundreds of thousands of people are being coerced in Southeast Asia by criminal gangs into carrying out online scams, often under the threat of torture, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said.
Criminal groups are coercing countless individuals in Southeast Asia into engaging in online fraud, frequently employing threats of torture, as reported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Many have been forcibly involved in online criminal activities and confront grave transgressions like torture or sexual assault, as stated in a report by OHCHR, headquartered in Geneva.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk emphasized that individuals compelled to engage in these fraudulent operations endure harsh treatment while being compelled to commit offenses. He stressed that these individuals are victims, not culprits.
OHCHR pointed out that around 120,000 people in Myanmar and an additional 100,000 in Cambodia may be trapped in situations where they are coerced into conducting profitable online scams, encompassing illegal gambling and crypto fraud. Other nations such as Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Thailand have also been identified as key destinations or transit points.
The latest OHCHR report also brings to light cybercrime schemes, a substantial concern in Asia, where many workers are ensnared and compelled to partake in scams targeting individuals online. The report underscores the range of serious human rights violations faced by these workers, including torture, arbitrary detention, sexual violence, and forced labor.
Victims of such operations can be swindled out of an average of $160,000 each, frequently through intricate scripts dispatched via unregulated social media platforms.
According to OHCHR, these victims hail from various regions, including ASEAN, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Asia, and even further afield, encompassing Africa and Latin America.
Turk urged nations to guarantee justice “for the individuals who have been subjected to such appalling abuse.”
Speaking in Geneva, Pia Oberoi, Senior Advisor on Migration and Human Rights in the Asia Pacific at OHCHR, remarked that ongoing regional economic hardships, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to a scarcity of secure avenues for respectable job opportunities. This has resulted in populations becoming more reliant on recruitment platforms or intermediaries, making them vulnerable to targeting by criminal groups through these avenues, indicating that victims are being enticed with genuine employment prospects.
She highlighted that warning signs often go unnoticed, particularly for the educated, multilingual young men who are frequently victimized, reflecting a pattern of labor migration in the region and the sophistication of deceitful recruitment tactics.
The report by OHCHR emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated responses have had a significant impact on unlawful activities, including the surge of remote work and businesses relocating to less regulated environments. Oberoi also noted that this challenge is particularly pronounced in areas with weak regulations, such as conflict-affected border regions in Myanmar and loosely regulated zones in Laos PDR and Cambodia.
Oberoi added that the ease with which ASEAN nationals can cross borders without visas contributes to a lack of screening focused on protection, as officials often lack the training to identify such responses.
Despite the presence of regional legal frameworks to prosecute these offenses, OHCHR highlighted the lack of implementation by states, with forced criminal activity often not being recognized as a legal violation.
The report further revealed that even rescued victims, rather than being safeguarded and provided with the necessary rehabilitation, often face criminal charges or immigration penalties.
Turk implored all impacted nations to demonstrate the political determination to bolster human rights, enhance governance, and uphold the rule of law, including rigorous efforts to combat corruption. He stressed that only through such a comprehensive strategy can the cycle of impunity be halted, ensuring protection and justice for those who have suffered such grievous abuses. —APP
