Social development

Human rights

One year on, Mother Nature Cambodia activists remain behind bars as families and NGOs demand their release

One year after five Mother Nature Cambodia activists were imprisoned, civil society groups and families are calling for their immediate release. To mark the anniversary of their detention, rights groups launched a five-day campaign demanding justice, highlighting how their continued detention harms environmental protection efforts ...

Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/one-year-on-mother-nature-cambodia-activists-remain-behind-bars-as-families-and-ngos-demand-their-release/

Two Korean-owned banks allegedly committed human rights abuses via aggressive lending practices in Cambodia

Two Korean-owned commercial banks in Cambodia have been accused of human rights abuses against vulnerable borrowers, where they allegedly used aggressive debt practices, according to a new report by a Korean NGO. ...

Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/two-korean-owned-banks-allegedly-committed-human-rights-abuses-via-aggressive-lending-practices-in-cambodia/

U.S. Funding Cut of $150M Puts Global Independent Media at Risk

Independent media outlets worldwide are facing an unprecedented crisis, as revealed in an in-depth report released Friday, which found that the 2025 U.S. aid cuts—removal of $150 million in annual support—triggered widespread closures, layoffs, and a surge in disinformation across dozens of countries. ...

Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/u-s-funding-cut-of-150m-puts-global-independent-media-at-risk/

Amnesty accuses Cambodian government of ignoring human rights abuses in scam compounds

Amnesty International accused the Cambodian government of deliberately ignoring widespread human rights abuses—including human trafficking, forced labor, child labor, slavery, and torture—carried out in more than 50 scamming compounds across the country. ...

Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/amnesty-accuses-cambodian-government-of-ignoring-human-rights-abuses-in-scam-compounds/

Legal threats, shrinking aid and press freedom threaten Cambodian journalism

Press freedom in Cambodia continues to deteriorate amid rising legal threats, shrinking funds, and tighter restrictions, a report by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) revealed, indicating a landscape of fear for media practitioners. ...

Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/legal-threats-shrinking-aid-and-press-freedom-threaten-cambodian-journalism/

Five admit involvement in $36.9M scam and laundering ring in Cambodia

Despite five men pleading guilty in the US to being involved in a multi-million dollar scam and money laundering operation in Cambodia, according to the US Department of Justice, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior refutes claims that scam centres exist in the country, arguing that ...

Mao Sreypich
https://kiripost.com/stories/five-admit-involvement-in-369m-scam-and-laundering-ring-in-cambodia

Imprisoned activist Seng Theary halts hunger strike, her fourth since 2022

A prominent human rights advocate Seng Theary, who is serving a six-year prison term, halted her 14-day hunger strike on the ninth day due to health concerns, as civil society groups called for her release. ...

Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/imprisoned-activist-seng-theary-halts-hunger-strike-her-fourth-since-2022/

Journalist harassment in Cambodia rises sharply in 2024, legal threat dominate

Cambodia witnessed a sharp rise in cases of harassment against journalists in 2024, according to the latest report by the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), with a notable 28 percent increase in total incidents compared to the previous year. ...

Thang Sinorn
https://kiripost.com/stories/journalist-harassment-in-cambodia-rises-sharply-in-2024-legal-threat-dominate

Online publisher, two others charged for “mocking” the army amid Cambodia-Thai border dispute

An online publisher and two others have been charged with three criminal charges, related to the impact on the morality of the army, including a comment to discriminate against the force. ...

Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/online-publisher-two-others-charged-for-mocking-the-army-amid-cambodia-thai-border-dispute/

Information ministry issues reminder about defence reporting

A Ministry of Information spokesperson has reminded all media representatives — professional, non-professional and social media users — to avoid publishing information that could harm national security, damage relations with other countries or endanger law enforcement officials and personnel as they carry out their duties. ...

Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/information-ministry-issues-reminder-about-defence-reporting

Appeal court upholds convictions against union leader Morm Rithy and govt critic Ny Nak

The Court of Appeal of Phnom Penh on Tuesday upheld the conviction of a lower court against union leader Morm Rithy — a decision which has been condemned as unjust by his lawyer and unionists who attended the trial. ...

Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/appeal-court-upholds-convictions-against-union-leader-morm-rithy-and-govt-critic-ny-nak/

Urgent action needed to dismantle scam compounds in Cambodia and Southeast Asia – UN

UN experts are sounding the alarm over a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Southeast Asia, urging immediate, human rights-based action to dismantle scam compounds—including in Cambodia—where hundreds of thousands of people are “trafficked, trapped, and forced into online criminal operations”. ...

Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/urgent-action-needed-to-dismantle-scam-compounds-in-cambodia-and-southeast-asia-un/

Information Ministry accuses NGOs, press groups for politicizing journalist Uk Mao’s case

The Ministry of Information has criticized non-governmental organizations and press groups for “pursuing their own political agendas”, portraying negative press freedom in Cambodia, in relation to jailed environmental journalist Uk Mao’s case. The ministry claimed that Mao “violated journalistic ethics”. ...

Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/information-ministry-accuses-ngos-press-groups-for-politicizing-journalist-uk-maos-case/

Vocal critic Heng Sithy extradited to Cambodia on ‘blackmail’ charges

Former Okhna Heng Sithy, who has levelled accusations of corruption and complicity in online scam operations at senior members of the Cambodian government, has been extradited from Russia to face charges of “aggravated blackmail”. He arrived in the Kingdom last night, May 24. ...

Post Staff
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vocal-critic-heng-sithy-extradited-to-cambodia-on-blackmail-charges-

Media urged to prioritise safeguarding of children in reporting

Journalists and editors from leading Cambodian media outlets gathered today, May 23, for a landmark training session on the ethical and responsible portrayal of children and youth in media coverage. ...

Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/media-urged-to-prioritise-safeguarding-of-children-in-reporting

Police seek Thai cooperation to extradite activist

Cambodian authorities have announced that they intend to seek the cooperation from Thai authorities to extradite a Cambodian woman named Chou Chhin, who they say broadcast misleading information about the Kingdom’s ongoing trade negotiations with the US, via her “Women Overseas” Facebook page. ...

Phak Seangly
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/police-seek-thai-cooperation-to-extradite-activist

Official calls for media to fact check to ensure social justice

Ministry of Information spokesman Tep Asnarith has expressed concerns over the spread of misinformation regarding a recent tragic case that appalled the Kingdom – the murder of a 14-year-old school girl. ...

Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/official-calls-for-media-to-fact-check-to-ensure-social-justice

CamboJA News wins Anthony Lewis Prize for exceptional rule of law journalism

 CamboJA News has been awarded the World Justice Project’s Anthony Lewis Journalism Prize, recognizing our investigative reporting and daily coverage of issues undermining the rule of law in Cambodia. ...

CamboJA Staff
https://cambojanews.com/camboja-news-wins-anthony-lewis-prize-for-exceptional-rule-of-law-journalism/

U.S. researcher’s report names 28 for sanctions over ruling party scam links; govt denies

A blistering report by a prominent U.S. crime expert, disallowed from returning to Cambodia by his employer in 2023 over alleged threats, has triggered a wave of condemnation from Cambodian officials after calling for expanded U.S. sanctions on elites linked to the country’s online scam ...

Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/u-s-researchers-report-names-28-for-sanctions-over-ruling-party-scam-links-govt-denies/

Cambodia, Indonesia strengthen joint efforts to fight transnational crime

Cambodia and Indonesia have reaffirmed their shared commitment to intensify cooperation in combating transnational crime, following a series of high-level meetings between an Indonesian law enforcement delegation and key Cambodian institutions on May 20. ...

Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-indonesia-strengthen-joint-efforts-to-fight-transnational-crime

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