Joint statement on new Prakas lacks consultation, further restricts media freedom
On 15 December 2025, 21 media and civil society organizations issued a statement expressing dismay over the Ministry of Information’s new Prakas on “Qualifications and Journalistic Professionalism” and recent changes to press card requirements. The groups stated that these measures—which include mandatory letters of “good conduct,” criminal record checks, and a requirement to have “never been subject to complaints”—will make reporting more difficult and dangerous, further constricting Cambodia’s fragile media landscape. The statement highlighted that these regulations were introduced without broad consultation and could serve as mechanisms of control to disqualify or silence reporters who publish stories disliked by powerful actors. The organizations urged the ministry to revise these measures and engage meaningfully with stakeholders to ensure the regulatory framework protects, rather than restricts, independent journalism.
Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
