Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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February 20, 2026 Human rights
The UN Human Rights Office has collected evidence of the situation of hundreds of thousands of victims of human trafficking who are forced to engage in fraud in major criminal hubs in Southeast Asia and other regions of the world.new reportCases of torture and ill-treatment, sexual violence and exploitation, forced abortions, food deprivation and solitary confinement have been documented.
The victims also spoke about assistance to the criminals from some border guards and about intimidation and extortion by the police.
Promises of legal work
According to satellite imagery and on-the-ground data, nearly three-quarters of such operations concentrated in the Mekong regionHowever, the activities of fraudulent centers have also spread to some Pacific island states, countries in South Asia, the Persian Gulf, West Africa, and the Americas.
The report is based on interviews with victims from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, India, China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and South Africa. They were trafficked to trafficking centers in Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates between 2021 and 2025. The study also interviewed representatives of the police, border agencies, and civil society.
Victims reported being lured in with promises of legitimate work, only to be coerced into participating in online scams ranging from telephone extortion to financial scams and "romantic" schemes.
Cruel punishments
Some of the victims described large gated communities of over 200 hectares, resembling autonomous cities, with multi-story fortified buildings, high walls topped with barbed wire, and armed guards.
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There are also reports of deaths during escape attempts – some fell from balconies and rooftops. Escape attempts were harshly punished. A Vietnamese survivor reported that her sister was beaten, shocked with a taser, and locked up without food for seven days.
Coercion to commit fraudulent activity
According to the report, recruiters often arranged video calls with victims' relatives, forcing them to watch the abuse in order to extract ransom payments.
Most victims received only a fraction of the promised wages: various fines and "expenses" were deducted from their earnings. One interviewee reported being forced to "earn" up to $9,500 daily as part of a fraudulent scheme, otherwise he faced beatings or being "resold" to another center with harsher conditions.
The inadmissibility of punishing victims of human trafficking
"The scale of abuse is both shocking and heartbreaking," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. He emphasized that victims often face mistrust, stigma, and even punishment instead of protection and rehabilitation.
According to Türk, effective measures must be based on human rights, including recognition of forced recruitment into criminal activity and the principle of non-punishment of victims of human trafficking.
The report also emphasizes the need for safe and timely release operations, respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and access to medical and psychological care for victims.
Fight against corruption
Researchers conducted a behavioral and systems analysis to examine the reasons why people continue to fall victim to such schemes. Proposed measures include expanding safe channels for labor migration, monitoring online job postings, and actively engaging civil society organizations and associations of victims themselves in prevention efforts.
The High Commissioner called on States to combat corruption associated with fraudulent networks and bring criminal syndicates to justice, and also to ensure the free operation of independent media and human rights defenders who combat human trafficking.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.