Social development
Human rights
Habitat Day sees call to end evictions
Several hundred demonstrators yesterday marked World Habitat Day by gathering at the National Assembly to submit a petition calling on the government to halt forced evictions and guarantee housing rights. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/habitat-day-sees-call-end-evictions
Cambodians march for end to forced evictions on World Habitat Day
Around 1,500 protesters marked World Habitat Day on Monday by marching through Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh and calling on the government to put a stop to forced evictions in the Southeast Asian nation. ...
Prach Chiv
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/habitat-10052015160322.html
UN envoy makes first address to rights council in Geneva
Rhona Smith, the U.N.’s new special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, on Tuesday addressed the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva for the first time, telling the body that she planned to focus on marginalized people in the country. ...
Anthony Jensen
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/un-envoy-makes-first-address-to-rights-council-in-geneva-95957/
Revamp of torture prevention panel called cosmetic
The government has announced plans to upgrade a sub-decree on torture prevention to the status of royal decree in order to comply with its international obligations, but observers said yesterday that the proposed changes will do little to bolster the body’s impartiality.The decision was confirmed ...
Taing Vida and Zoe Holman
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/revamp-torture-prevention-panel-called-cosmetic
Cambodian police arrest student for Facebook threat to blow up deputy PM
A Cambodian University student, who was arrested by provincial police in Siem Reap after he threatened to kill Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng on social media, has confessed to the plot to throw a grenade at the government official during the school’s graduation ceremony, the ...
Khe Sonorng and Samean Yun
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/cambodia-threat-09292015132421.html
Despite PM’s attack, Rainsy pushes plan to seize land
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy over the weekend again raised the prospect that a future CNRP government may oversee forced redistributions of land from the rich to the poor in order to correct cases of land-grabbing under Prime Minister Hun Sen’s reign.Mr. Hun Sen last week ...
Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/despite-pms-attack-rainsy-pushes-plan-to-seize-land-95600/
No options for families in Poipet facing eviction
Forty-three families from Poipet town and the nearby village of Kbal Spean 1 say they will ignore the September 28 deadline of an eviction notice from the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/no-options-families-poipet-facing-eviction
New UN envoy wraps up first mission to Cambodia with call for judicial reform
The new United Nations envoy to Cambodia concluded her first official visit to the country Thursday by calling on Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government to ensure the independence of the judiciary amid a host of land and labor disputes she said are encroaching on the ...
Yeang Socheametta
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/envoy-09242015151717.html
Kem Sokha meets new UN special rapporteur
Vice president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Kem Sokha held talk with visiting new UN Human Right Envoy Rhona Smith at the National Assembly today. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/kem-sokha-meets-new-un-special-rapporteur-8982
Kratie court questions Phnong
The Kratie Provincial Court questioned five ethnic Phnong villagers yesterday following a complaint by a Vietnamese rubber company that they had taken land granted by its concession. ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/kratie-court-questions-phnong
Hun Sen says he will ‘dismantle’ threats to government
Prime Minister Hun Sen says he will continue to “dismantle” groups that are a threat to the government.In a letter to coincide with the International Day of Peace on Monday, Hun Sen said Cambodian democracy and human rights are making progress, but he also said ...
Hul Reaksmey and Ten Soksreinith,
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/hun-sen-says-he-will-dismantle-threats-to-government/2972231.html
Rights NGO worker held over UDG protest
An NGO worker was detained on Friday after participating in a roadblock by Koh Kong province’s Poy Chorpun community to protest the activities of the Chinese firm Union Development Group (UDG). ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rights-ngo-worker-held-over-udg-protest
Prime Minister Hun Sen to met U.N special rapporteur next Monday
Prime Minister Hun Sen will meet with the current United Nations Special Rapporteur Rhona Smith at Peace Palace on September 21, 2015. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/prime-minister-hun-sen-to-met-un-special-rapporteur-next-monday-8969
As UN envoy arrives, rights defenders question sway
As Rhona Smith, the U.N.’s new special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, began her first official visit to the country Wednesday, leading human rights activists were at odds over how much her position could influence the situation on the ground. ...
Anthony Jensen
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/as-un-envoy-arrives-rights-defenders-question-sway-94474/
Another UN rights envoy arrives
The new Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for the United Nations in Cambodia, Rhona Smith, will touch down in Cambodia for the first time today and will stay until the 24th. Ms. Smith will examine the human rights situation in here and report her findings ...
Srey Kumneth
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/15761/another-un-rights-envoy-arrives/
U.N.’s new rights envoy to make official visit to Cambodia tomorrow
The U.N.’s new special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith will make her first official visit eight-day in Cambodia. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/un%E2%80%99s-new-rights-envoy-to-make-official-visit-to-cambodia-tomorrow-8955
Following arrests, groups issue nine principles of internet freedom
Cambodian pro-democracy and rights groups have written a statement of principles to guide Internet freedom in the country, following the arrests of activists for Facebook posts. ...
Neou Vannarin
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/following-arrests-groups-issue-nine-principles-of-internet-freedom/2964547.html
More than 900 street people rounds up for nine-month
Phnom Penh Municipal Social Affairs vowed to clear streets people and child beggar by the end of this year by rounding up and sending them for vocational training. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/more-than-900-street-people-rounds-up-for-nine-month-8946
Cambodian government plans stricter internet controls
Cambodia announced plans this week to form a new government department responsible for monitoring and cracking down on a range of vaguely defined “online” crimes, drawing expressions of concern from human rights groups and the country’s political opposition. ...
So Chivey
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/controls-09102015155636.html
Six arrested in Phnom Penh over bride-trafficking ring
Three Chinese men and three Cambodians were arrested in Phnom Penh on Wednesday on suspicion of running a trafficking ring in which Cambodian women are married off to Chinese men, police said. ...
Saing Soenthrith
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/six-arrested-in-phnom-penh-over-bride-trafficking-ring-93807/
The National Police establishes a new department
The General Commissariat of National Police has recently established a new department called “Department for Anti-technology Crime”, said Gen. Khieu Sopheak, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staffq
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/the-national-police-establishes-a-new-department-8932
UN rights envoy to make first official visit
More than five months after being appointed as the U.N.’s new special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith will make her first official visit to the country later this month, according to the government’s Human Rights Committee. ...
Kuch Naren and Colin Meyn
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/un-rights-envoy-to-make-first-official-visit-93512/
Social media allows expression, but users weigh the risks of rumor
For many young Cambodians, social media has become more than simply a way to communicate with friends, and is a major source of news about their country and the world. But while observers say such websites have increased awareness about political issues in recent years, ...
Koh Kong police releases 17 protesters
Police in Koh Kong province on Wednesday late evening set free 17 people, including for local rights workers who were arrested over a protest in the province. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/koh-kong-police-releases-17-protesters-8919