Civil and political rights

The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) will defend the government’s National Human Rights Report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland, in March. ...

Phnom Penh municipal police arrested nine people on December 31 for holding an unauthorised demonstration in front of the local integrated resort NagaWorld which they said affected security, public order and social safety. ...

Cambodia’s state-owned news agency, Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP), has emphasised the key and active role of media in this unprecedented health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

With journalists in Cambodia adhering to the ethical provisions of their profession and improving day by day in their responsibilities and duties in ensuring accuracy in their work, there is no impunity for crimes against them. ...

Meas Sophorn, Under Secretary of State and Spokesperson at the Ministry of Information, has turned down a report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the press freedom in Cambodia. ...

Minister of Post and Telecommunications Chea Vandeth met virtually with Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information of the Republic of Singapore Josephine Teo on Thursday to discuss strengthening the cybersecurity capacity of the two nations. ...

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said access to knowledge is indispensable in a democratic society and expressed hope that people will soon be able to have more confidence when choosing their leaders once the new draft law on information access is passed.​​ ...

The Ministry of Information has pledged to conclude consultations with the Ministry of Justice on the draft law on access to information soon. ...

A total of 525 fake news were recorded in the first quarter of this year with 215 of them about the King and political leaders. ...

Press freedom in Cambodia is steadily declining and is ranked 144 in the world,  the director of Cambodia Journalist Alliance (CamboJA), Nop Vy said. ...

The Working Group for Press Freedom has co-organised a two-week campaign with the theme “Information as a Public Good” on social media to promote and highlight the importance of the freedom of the press and urge the public’s participation. ...

The Union of Journalist Federations of Cambodia (UJFC) has called on journalists and social media users to put greater focus on moral and ethical considerations when disseminating information in order to avoid spreading fake news. ...

The Ministry of Information is preparing to publish 5,000 copies of Cambodia 2021 ahead of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which Cambodia is hosting in the middle of this year, for distribution to delegates and participants. ...

The government will take stronger action against people spreading fake news on social media, especially concerning COVID-19 vaccinations in the Kingdom. ...

A joint statement signed by 63 Cambodian civil society organisations (CSOs) released Friday requested the government immediately repeal the recent sub-decree on the Establishment of a National Internet Gateway, citing the potential for restrictions on internet users’ freedoms and privacy.   ...

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday continued the trial for union chief Rong Chhun and two of his supporters who were charged with “incitement” in connection with a statement he made claiming Cambodia had ceded land to Vietnam along their shared border in Tboung Khmum ...

The Supreme Court yesterday heard the bail applications of three environmental activists  who were charged with “incitement” for criticising Phnom Penh authorities on Facebook last year. ...

The Ministry of Information will expand its monitoring of social media posts to include more platforms. ...

Effective from now, journalists are barred from filming or recording criminal cases that are still under investigation by police.​ The directive was issued on Friday by the General Commissariat of National Police to municipal and provincial police that journalists are prohibited from filming or recording ...

The Ministry of Information is sponsoring the first annual Gratitude Awards for reporters who have produced exemplary work that demonstrated courage, intellect and insight and advanced the profession of journalism starting in the 1970s. ...

The National Police’s Anti-Cyber Crime Department has called on social media users to be wary of messages advertising opportunities to win rewards after observing a recent increase in the proliferation of scams on platforms like Telegram and Facebook. ...

In 2020, the Ministry of Information identified sources of objectionable or illegal material on social media including fake news and disinformation, various incitements, unfair criticism of the nation’s leadership and insults to the King totalling 1,343 cases. ...

The Information Ministry threatened legal action against journalists it claimed were spreading fake news or engaging in unethical behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, a warning that comes amid persistent persecution of journalists in the country. ...

Three online news journalists from Kratie province were arrested and charged with extortion this week for allegedly demanding money in return for holding back a story about illegal land clearing.​ ...