Civil and political rights

Senior officials have brushed off concerns raised by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) over the annulment of the licence for online news outlet VOD, saying this would “improve” the professional ethics of the media in Cambodia. ...

In a gesture of goodwill, Prime Minister Hun Sen offered government positions to unemployed Voice of Democracy (VOD) journalists. ...

Despite a wave of international concern over the shutdown of independent media Voice of Democracy (VOD), Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the outlet’s license will not be restored and offered VOD reporters government jobs instead in a Facebook post Tuesday. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that roles within the state framework will be made available for any former employees of online media outlet VOD who wish to engage in public affairs. ...

Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday dismissed concerns from the international community and foreign embassies over the decision to revoke the licence of the Voice of Democracy (VOD) radio. ...

Cambodia said on Tuesday that the shutdown of the foreign-funded VOD (Voice of Democracy) radio over broadcasting “intentionally slanderous” information does not undermine the vibrant press freedom in the Southeast Asian country. ...

There were tears at Cambodia’s Voice of Democracy on Monday as journalist Khan Leakhena reacted to the sudden order to close the news website. ...

International embassies and other organisations in Cambodia have raised grave concerns about the government’s snap decision to shutter independent media Voice of Democracy (VOD) after revoking its license. ...

After the government shuttered independent media Voice of Democracy (VOD) on Monday, dozens of civil society groups decried the decision and numerous embassies warned the loss of the publication seriously damaged Cambodia’s dwindling press freedom in the run-up to the July national election. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the government will revoke the license for media outlet VOD in a Facebook post Sunday evening, after he previously demanded an apology for an article he claimed was inaccurate. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the Ministry of Information to revoke the licence of VOD, after the online media outlet failed to apologise for publishing an “intentionally slanderous” article regarding Cambodia’s recent relief assistance to quake-hit Turkiye. ...

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina recommended that the Technical Secretariat on Economic Land Concessions maintain a database of the companies which received economic land concessions. Regular inter-ministerial meetings should be held to deliver updates on the progress of each of the companies.​ ...

The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) on January 29 concluded its two-day extraordinary congress, setting the party’s priority goals for 2023-2028. ...

Several government institutions are working together to improve the effectiveness of the media, as they understand that access to information is vital to the well-being of the population.​ ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the Information Ministry to finalize the long-delayed Law on Access to Information during a Saturday press gala in Phnom Penh. He claimed the draft law would be adopted in the next two years after the July national elections.  ...

The draft Law on Access to Information could possibly be passed in 2024 or 2025, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen. The drafting of the law has been underway for several years, with inputs from different stakeholders including NGOs and UNESCO who have been pushing for ...

The Ministry of Information, in response to a number of civil society organisations, said it has been working to accelerate the drafting of the Freedom of Information Act. The ministry said it is optimistic that the law will be promulgated in 2023. ...

A controversial video, which features a “provocative” song and graphic footage of a violent clash between protesting garment workers and authorities nine years back, has been removed from the official websites and social media pages of four civil society organisations (CSOs). ...

Minor party leaders say voting irregularities they flagged after last year’s commune election have not been addressed by the National Election Committee, which has ignored most of their suggestions for electoral reform. ...

The Appeal Court on Wednesday upheld a lower court ruling finding  Candlelight Party vice president, Son Chhay, guilty of defamation against the Cambodian People’s Party and ordered him to pay  4 billion riel ($1 million) in damages — an increase by a third of what ...

Six Southeast Asian journalist organizations from five countries formed a regional partnership to combat increasing repression and deteriorating press freedom at a conference in Phnom Penh on Monday.  ...

Young indigenous women and people working to support the development of indigenous women found that young indigenous women live in a situation where information is lacking due to social perspective and public service. ...

Cambodia’s levels of freedom of expression, press and access to information remain low, and the work environment for journalists and human rights defenders is “increasingly dangerous,” the Cambodian Center for Human Rights said in a report released Thursday. ...

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. ...