Civil and political rights

The diplomatic relationship between France and Cambodia is gaining new momentum, marked by ambitious cooperation projects and high-level visits designed to take the partnership to the next level. ...

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Cambodia 161 out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, which is a further drop from 151 in 2024, reflecting a deteriorating media landscape, according to its report released a day before World Press Freedom Day. ...

The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the suspension of USAID support and Cambodia’s drop in press freedom rankings from 151 to 161 were the most widely discussed topics during an event held to mark the 32nd World Press Freedom Day. ...

In the past decade, Cambodia’s media landscape has undergone a major transformation, marked by notable growth in digital platforms. ...

The “Say No to Fake News” campaign was launched on April 1, which coincided with April Fool’s Day. However, the campaign is no joke but rather an initiative to raise awareness and take action against those who deliberately spread misinformation. ...

Independent radio stations, Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), have been suspended unexpectedly, raising concern among advocates of press freedom, unionists, and civil society in Cambodia. ...

US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aimed at shuttering Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and several other news organisations that receive funding from the US government. ...

Interior Minister Sar Sokha announced on Wednesday that provincial administrations will take immediate action against any associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that collaborate with extremist groups seeking to overthrow the government. ...

Cambodia’s civic space was rated “repressed,” scoring just 27 out of 100 in the 2024 Global Findings report from CIVICUS Monitor, an international organization dedicated to strengthening citizen action worldwide. The government has since brushed away the findings, calling them unfounded. ...

The Ministry of Planning’s National Institute of Statistics (NIS) and the EU officially launched the “EU Twinning” project on December 5.​ The event was attended by Minister of Planning Bin Troachhey, EU ambassador to Cambodia Igor Driesmans and Team Europe representatives from Italy, France, Poland ...

During her historic visit to Cambodia, Samantha Power, administrator for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), announced an additional $5 million in support for civil society, workers and independent media. ...

Despite the rapid digitalization of Cambodia’s economy and society, many online citizens continue to struggle with digital illiteracy – particularly vulnerable groups exposed to online discrimination and fraud. As digitalization efforts increase, experts are urging the government to implement laws that protect social media users and ...

A recent recommendation from the Ministry of Information urging provincial departments to monitor and control public sentiment, particularly on social media, has raised concerns about whether the primary intent is to maintain stability or stifle local opinions. ...

Senior government official Sun Chanthol highlighted the potential of the recent groundbreaking of the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal project to U.S investors that can benefit Cambodia’s economy. He also said freedom of expression in the country has improved, contrary to the views of civil society ...

The arrest of Cambodian journalist Mech Dara in late September has raised concerns about press freedom, but the Ministry of Information has defended the move, stating that the charges against him are legal and unrelated to his journalism. ...

The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva on Tuesday criticised the request from human rights experts at the UN to suspend the Cambodian Press Charter, claiming it was made with insufficient evidence. ...

The Ministry of Information has set a short- and long-term strategic plan for the development of the information and audio-visual sector over the next five years to contribute to the government’s reform on the information and audio-visual sector. ...

The Ministry of Information has printed 20,000 copies of the Charter for Professional Journalism for free distribution to journalists as a means for strengthening ethics and encouraging responsible journalism. The distribution campaign began on August 23, 2024.​ ...

Government officials and armed forces condemned anti-Cambodia-Lao-Vietnam Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) activists and pledged to suppress any activities initiated by the “extremist opposition groups” based overseas who are “attempting to overthrow the government”. ...

Opposition to the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) project continues to grow abroad, with protests by Khmer citizens in South Korea and Australia on Sunday, August 11. ...

Cambodia’s first “Charter for Professional Journalism” is designed to elevate journalistic ethics and standards across all forms of media, including content creators and those involved in make-money-online (MMO) activities. ...

Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra emphasised the significance of the newly established “Charter for Professional Journalism”, highlighting its ongoing contribution to help review the draft of the amendment to the Press Law. ...

The Ministry of Information seemingly rushed the promulgation of the Charter for Professional Journalism on Tuesday, only days after the deadline for input by media associations with just a few suggestions included. ...

Journalists from Cambodia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, as well as China, participated in the third Mekong journalism training workshop on the role of media in combatting disinformation and fake news in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) context. ...