Human rights
Civil and political rights
Ministry orders action against NGOs linked to extremist groups
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. ...
Torn Vibol
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501607480/ministry-orders-action-against-ngos-linked-to-extremist-groups/
Global report ranks civic space “Repressed,” government brushes findings
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. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/global-report-ranks-civic-space-repressed-government-brushes-findings/
EU partner with Cambodia on new statistics initiative
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 ...
Post Staff
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/eu-partner-with-cambodia-on-new-statistics-initiative
USAID backs independent media, raises concerns over press freedom
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. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/usaid-backs-independent-media-raises-concerns-over-press-freedom
Phnom Penh Internet Forum calls attention to digital illiteracy and the fight for internet freedoms
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 ...
Seoung Nimol and Tang Porgech
https://cambojanews.com/phnom-penh-internet-forum-calls-attention-to-digital-illiteracy-and-the-fight-for-internet-freedoms/
Ministry responds to concerns over freedom of expression at local level
A recent recommendation from the Ministry of Information urging provincial departments to monitor and control public sentiment, particularly on social media, has raised concerns about whether the primary intent is to maintain stability or stifle local opinions. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-responds-to-concerns-over-freedom-of-expression-at-local-level
Sun Chanthol boasts Funan Techo Canal benefits to US investors, stresses that ‘freedom of expression has improved’
Senior government official Sun Chanthol highlighted the potential of the recent groundbreaking of the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal project to U.S investors that can benefit Cambodia’s economy. He also said freedom of expression in the country has improved, contrary to the views of civil society ...
Khuon Narim and Tang Porgech
https://cambojanews.com/sun-chanthol-boasts-funan-techo-canal-benefits-to-us-investors-stresses-that-freedom-of-expression-has-improved/
Cambodia defends journalist’s arrest amid criticism
The arrest of Cambodian journalist Mech Dara in late September has raised concerns about press freedom, but the Ministry of Information has defended the move, stating that the charges against him are legal and unrelated to his journalism. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-defends-journalist-s-arrest-amid-criticism
Cambodian UN rep dismisses request to suspend Press Charter
The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva on Tuesday criticised the request from human rights experts at the UN to suspend the Cambodian Press Charter, claiming it was made with insufficient evidence. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501561918/cambodian-un-rep-dismisses-request-to-suspend-press-charter/
Ministry sets 5-year plan for info, AV sector development
The Ministry of Information has set a short- and long-term strategic plan for the development of the information and audio-visual sector over the next five years to contribute to the government’s reform on the information and audio-visual sector. ...
Hang Punreay
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501550552/ministry-sets-5-year-plan-for-info-av-sector-development/
Information Ministry distributes Charter for Professional Journalism
The Ministry of Information has printed 20,000 copies of the Charter for Professional Journalism for free distribution to journalists as a means for strengthening ethics and encouraging responsible journalism. The distribution campaign began on August 23, 2024. ...
Nang Veasna
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501547979/information-ministry-distributes-charter-for-professional-journalism/
Armed forces to root out extremist groups opposing CLV-DTA amid protests overseas
Government officials and armed forces condemned anti-Cambodia-Lao-Vietnam Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) activists and pledged to suppress any activities initiated by the “extremist opposition groups” based overseas who are “attempting to overthrow the government”. ...
Khuon Narim and Tep Suokeany
https://cambojanews.com/armed-forces-to-root-out-extremist-groups-opposing-clv-dta-amid-protests-overseas/
Hun Sen defends CLV-DTA, warns against unrest inspired by Bangladesh protests
Opposition to the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) project continues to grow abroad, with protests by Khmer citizens in South Korea and Australia on Sunday, August 11. ...
Niem Chheng
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-defends-clv-dta-warns-against-unrest-inspired-by-bangladesh-protests
New charter covers all media, content creators, MMO activities
Cambodia’s first “Charter for Professional Journalism” is designed to elevate journalistic ethics and standards across all forms of media, including content creators and those involved in make-money-online (MMO) activities. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-charter-covers-all-media-content-creators-mmo-activities
Minister highlights new charter for improving Press Law amendment
Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra emphasised the significance of the newly established “Charter for Professional Journalism”, highlighting its ongoing contribution to help review the draft of the amendment to the Press Law. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501537437/minister-highlights-new-charter-for-improving-press-law-amendment/
New professional journalism charter speedily implemented only days after input deadline
The Ministry of Information seemingly rushed the promulgation of the Charter for Professional Journalism on Tuesday, only days after the deadline for input by media associations with just a few suggestions included. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/new-professional-journalism-charter-speedily-implemented-only-days-after-input-deadline/
Mekong journalism training workshop tackles fake news
Journalists from Cambodia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, as well as China, participated in the third Mekong journalism training workshop on the role of media in combatting disinformation and fake news in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) context. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501501051/mekong-journalism-training-workshop-tackles-fake-news/
Hun Sen proposes law to punish anyone denying Cambodia’s genocidal past
Senate President Hun Sen proposed drafting a law against people who claim that Cambodia did not experience a genocide and wanted to start a “color revolution”. A political analyst has said the law would further shrink citizens’ freedom of expression in relation to historical events. ...
Khuon Narim and Ly Rosslan
https://cambojanews.com/hun-sen-proposes-law-to-punish-anyone-denying-cambodias-genocidal-past/
US ambassador talks Cambodia's media landscape, hopes for improvement
In one of his final interviews before departing Cambodia, US Ambassador Patrick Murphy sat down with Kiripost’s Prak Chan Thul to reflect on his legacy and the bilateral relations with the Southeast Asian nation. ...
Prak Chan Thul
https://kiripost.com/stories/us-ambassador-talks-cambodias-media-landscape-hopes-for-improvement
PM praises improved labour dispute resolution in Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Manet is praising the increasingly successful resolution of labour disputes. ...
Torn Vibol
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501479454/pm-praises-improved-labour-dispute-resolution-in-cambodia/
Govt criticises report by some UN experts on human rights in Cambodia
The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations (UN) Office and other International Organisations in Geneva have criticised a joint news release by some UN experts, accusing Cambodia of harassment and persecution against human rights defenders. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501475852/govt-criticises-report-by-some-un-experts-on-human-rights-in-cambodia/
Commentators have their say on end of The Post’s print publication
Following the announcement that The Phnom Penh Post, and Post Khmer, its Khmer language sister paper, will cease publication in print form on March 29, several social observers, government officials, intellectuals and readers were prompted to share their thoughts at the end of more than ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/commentators-have-their-say-on-end-of-the-post-s-print-publication
CSOs continue to press authorities to allow banned STT photo exhibition to resume
Some 62 civil society organizations (CSOs) including Licadho, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), and local communities have urged the authorities to allow Sahmakum Teang Tnaut’s (STT) photo exhibition to resume after it was shut down two weeks ago. ...
Phon Sothyroth
https://cambojanews.com/csos-continue-to-press-authorities-to-allow-banned-stt-photo-exhibition-to-resume/
Low revenue forces Cambodia’s oldest newspaper ‘Phnom Penh Post’ to end print publication by March 29
The Phnom Penh Post will cease publication by March 29 following a significant fall in advertising revenues since the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn, although the paper will continue operating online. ...
Khuon Narim and Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/low-revenue-forces-cambodias-oldest-newspaper-phnom-penh-post-to-close-march-29-final-print/