Orphanage Trafficking: A Modern Slavery : An analysis of the impact of NGOs' advocacy in Cambodia on the Australian ''Hidden in Plain Sight'' report of 2017

Abstract: In 2017, Australia officially recognized orphanage trafficking as a form of modern slavery, creating a precedent in legislation regarding children rights. This process intended to inspire global norms has been the result of a collaboration with NGOs, advocating against harmful practices in Cambodia. While research has been previously conducted on the impact of Western tourists and lack of thinking upon humanitarian intervention in Cambodia, there has been no study so far on the consequently Australian legislative process. This research intends to analyze the Australian attempt in becoming a norm entrepreneur, through the analysis of the writing of the 2017 Parliament report ''Hidden in Plain Sight''. The content analysis of the report will be put into perspective with previous global agreements on children rights and the Australian Code of Conduct for NGOs, using the framework of moral norms. The argument defended in the research is that NGO action in Cambodia has been monitored by the Australian government for decades, while leaving them relatively free in their action. But 2017 marked a historic turn in regulations, as Australia placed itself as regional policy leader by incorporating orphanage trafficking within the definition of modern slavery, under the pressure of NGO advocacy.