Civil and political rights

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. ...

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. ...

When the possibility of military action raises its head, the role of journalists becomes more crucial than ever. ...

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. ...

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. ...

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”. ...

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. ...

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. ...

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. ...

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. ...

 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. ...

The Census of Agriculture Cambodia 2023​ was launched this morning, May 19. The data generated by the census is expected to become a key driver in enabling the government and all relevant partners to develop effective plans for advancing Cambodia’s agriculture sector. ...

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 ...