Social development
Ethnic minorities and indigenous people
Higher percentage of indigenous people than Khmer in labour market
The percentage of indigenous people who contribute to the labour market is higher than that of Khmer people, especially in agriculture, according to the 2024 National Report on the Demographic and Socio-Economic Situation of Indigenous People in Cambodia released by the Ministry of Planning. ...
Phuong Sothiny
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501610509/higher-percentage-of-indigenous-people-than-khmer-in-labour-market/
Report shows progress for indigenous, but disparities persist
Cambodia’s indigenous population has made strides in Khmer literacy and school attendance but still faces stark gaps in areas such as healthcare and land rights, a new report by the Ministry of Planning and the Cambodia Indigenous People Alliance (CIPA) found, with gaps noted in prior reporting. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/report-shows-progress-for-indigenous-but-disparities-persist/
3D map helps indigenous communities safeguard resources in Mondulkiri
A three-dimensional map has been introduced for the first time in an indigenous community within a protected area, aiming to help residents better understand geographic features and protect natural resources. ...
Phak Seangly
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/3d-map-helps-indigenous-communities-safeguard-resources-in-mondulkiri
Ministry reports slow progress in indigenous community recognition
Ministry of Rural Development spokesman Pit Karuna stated that the ministry has collected data on 455 indigenous communities across the country, of which 194 have been assessed and officially identified. ...
Phak Seangly
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-reports-slow-progress-in-indigenous-community-recognition
Expedite collective land titles for indigenous peoples who risk losing their farmlands, NGOs urge government
The government allegedly achieved “far below” its goal set in 2017 to issue collective land titles (CLTs) to 10 indigenous communities per year, according to the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) on Wednesday. ...
Khuon Narim and Tep Suokeany
https://cambojanews.com/expedite-collective-land-titles-for-indigenous-people-who-risk-losing-their-farmlands-ngos-urge-government/
Ministry reports slow progress in indigenous community recognition
Ministry of Rural Development spokesman Pit Karuna stated that the ministry has collected data on 455 indigenous communities across the country, of which 194 have been assessed and officially identified. ...
Phak Seangly
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-reports-slow-progress-in-indigenous-community-recognition
Cambodia to celebrate indigenous people’s day on August 9
Cambodia will celebrate the 30th International Day of the World’s Indigenous People and its 20th national observance on August 9, highlighting the indigenous communities that make up 1.4 per cent of the country’s 17 million population. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-to-celebrate-indigenous-people-s-day-on-august-9
Preah Vihear marks 16th anniversary of heritage listing
To mark the 16th anniversary of Preah Vihear temple’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the National Authority for Preah Vihear organised a heritage run and tree planting event yesterday at the Preah Vihear Temple. ...
Som Sotheary
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501519037/preah-vihear-marks-16th-anniversary-of-heritage-listing/
HRW: rights of Indigenous Chong residents violated in Southern Cardamom carbon offset project
A new report alleges that conservation NGO Wildlife Alliance forcibly evicted, arrested and mistreated members of the Indigenous Chong community who live in the Cardamom Mountain National Park in the name of a carbon offset scheme. ...
Leila Goldstein and Soeung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/hrw-rights-of-indigenous-chong-residents-violated-in-southern-cardamom-carbon-offset-project/
New M’kiri airport to boost tourism, economy but deforestation concerns linger
The government has permitted private firm Focus Trans Global Venture Co Ltd (FTGV) to study the construction of a new airport in Mondulkiri province, northeast of Cambodia, as well as invest in a build, operate and transfer (BOT) model, the Office of the Council Minister ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/new-mkiri-airport-to-boost-tourism-economy-but-deforestation-concerns-linger/
From Clearing Farmland in Preah Vihear
M’lou Prey II commune authorities, of Preah Vihear’s Chheb district, submitted documentation Tuesday to the district regarding alleged encroachment on land farmed by Indigenous Kuy people following a protest earlier this month. ...
Forty percent of indigenous children in a Ratanakiri commune addicted to drugs
Local authorities and indigenous villagers in a commune in Ratanakiri are gravely concerned over the high percentage of their children being involved in drugs, with the propensity of becoming worse with time. ...
An Vicheth
https://cambojanews.com/forty-percent-of-indigenous-children-in-a-ratanakiri-commune-addicted-to-drugs/
Experts discuss conservation, development of Cambodia’s UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear
The International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Preah Vihear (ICC-Preah Vihear) held its eighth plenary and technical session in northwest Cambodia on Monday. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501405425/experts-discuss-conservation-development-of-cambodias-unesco-listed-preah-vihear/
Kampong Thom Provincial Court sentences two indigenous people to one year in land dispute
Kampong Thom Provincial Court sentences two indigenous representatives to one year in prison on “Violence against real estate owners” in connection with a land dispute with a rubber plantation developer. ...
Financial education for ethnic minorities
For Seoung Lort, understanding financial literacy is crucial, especially among ethnic communities with limited access to education due to their remote, mountainous dwellings, far from public schools. ...
May Kunmakara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/financial-education-for-ethnic-minorities
Digital campaign launched to protect Cambodia’s forests
A digital campaign, #ShowMeYourTree, has been launched to increase awareness about the importance of biodiversity, fantastic landscape views, and the crucial roles of the protectors, especially indigenous communities, in rainforest conservation. ...
Mao Sreypich
https://kiripost.com/stories/digital-campaign-launched-to-protect-cambodia-forests
‘I am afraid I will kill myself, like my husband’: spotlight on loan firms in Cambodia after Indigenous suicides
Kwak Nga was still reeling from her husband’s suicide when his microfinance creditors showed up at her home to remind her that they still expected the approximate $170 (£140) monthly interest payments the couple had struggled to make. ...
Years-long mediation leaves Bunong farmers indebted to multinational rubber firm
More than a decade after subsidiaries of multinational rubber firm Socfin Group forcibly cleared and seized the farms, burial grounds and sacred forests of Bunong indigenous communities in Mondulkiri province, the company now seeks to collect tens of thousands of dollars from these farmers for ...
Jack Brook and Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/years-long-mediation-leaves-bunong-farmers-indebted-to-multinational-rubber-firm/
Illegal logging claims in Preah Vihear sanctuary denied
Local authorities have refuted claims by a Kuy ethnic minority group in Preah Vihear province that forest crimes persisted in Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary. ...
Chea Sokny
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/illegal-logging-claims-preah-vihear-sanctuary-denied
Indigenous people in a village in Ratanakiri province cut down trees at risk to pay off debts
Residents of a village in O’Yadao district, Ratanakiri province, due to debt, went to cut down trees in the community, transported them across the border and sold them to Vietnam in order to repay the bank, according to village and community authorities. ...
UNESCO enhancing digital literacy for ethnic minorities
UNESCO and Conserve Indigenous Peoples Languages (CIPL), an NGO, are collaborating to enhance access to media, information, and digital literacy among ethnic minority youth in Preah Vihear, Mondulkiri, and Ratanakkiri provinces. ...
Chea Sokny
https://phnompenhpost.com/national/unesco-enhancing-digital-literacy-ethnic-minorities
Amplifying the voices of ethnic minority groups in Cambodia through media, information, and digital literacy
UNESCO and the organization Conserve Indigenous Peoples Languages (CIPL) have launched a new project to empower indigenous communities in Cambodia and amplify their voices in the media. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501355715/amplifying-the-voices-of-ethnic-minority-groups-in-cambodia-through-media-information-and-digital-literacy/
Ethnic Kuy put curse on environment officials building cow stable in wildlife sanctuary
Kuy indigenous peoples in Preah Vihear province’s Chheb district invoked ancestral spirits and held a “curse ceremony” to hex powerful people, including department of environment officials who they say are violating their land rights. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/ethnic-kuy-put-curse-on-environment-officials-building-cow-stable-in-wildlife-sanctuary/
Digital learning in Ratanakiri to get drop-outs back to school
Plan International in cooperation with Ratanakiri’s provincial department of Education, Youth and Sport conducted teaching sessions for 5,400 drop out students to attend school and access formal education through the project “Enhancing Quality Learning for Out of School Children in Northeastern Cambodia (EQUAL)” by accessing ...
Tith Kongnov
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501348210/digital-learning-in-ratanakiri-to-get-drop-outs-back-to-school/