Social development
Human rights
Hun Sen revokes VOD licence over ‘slander’
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. ...
Lay Samean
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-revokes-vod-licence-over-slander
Police claim Japanese, Malaysian nationals removed from compound not confined against will
Police claim 19 Japanese nationals who were removed from a Sihanoukville compound last week were not held against their will and are being investigated for alleged criminal activity, according to National Police spokesperson Chhay Kim Khoeun. ...
Sorn Sarath
https://cambojanews.com/police-claim-japanese-malaysian-nationals-removed-from-compound-not-confined-against-will/
Tina calls for land concession database
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. ...
Post Staff
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/tina-calls-land-concession-database
Human rights award ‘not a legal defence’ say foreign affairs ministry
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said a US State Department human rights award should be given to a person who advocates for peace, national harmony and reconciliation, not a lawbreaker. ...
Lay Samean
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/human-rights-award-not-legal-defence-say-foreign-affairs-ministry
Activist march to Pursat for calling to release political prisoners and union leaders
A crowd of around 30 activists gathered at the base of Phnom Penh’s namesake Wat Phnom hill Wednesday before embarking down National Road 5 on a more than 200 kilometer journey by foot to Pursat province to promote social justice and morality. ...
Sovann Sreypich and Phon Sotthyroth
https://cambojanews.com/activist-march-to-pursat-for-calling-to-release-political-prisoners-and-union-leaders/
CPP sets out five primary strategic goals for 2023-28
The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) on January 29 concluded its two-day extraordinary congress, setting the party’s priority goals for 2023-2028. ...
Ry Sochan
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cpp-sets-out-five-primary-strategic-goals-2023-28
Quality yet to match digital news quantity, claims ministry
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. ...
Sem Pisey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/quality-yet-match-digital-news-quantity-claims-ministry
Prime minister claims access to information law will be approved after elections
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. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/prime-minister-claims-access-to-information-law-will-be-approved-after-elections/
PM: Info access law maybe by 2024-25 as ‘all inputs’ needed
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 ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-info-access-law-maybe-2024-25-all-inputs-needed
Ministry aiming for 2023 promulgation of Freedom of Information Act
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. ...
Post Staff
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-aiming-2023-promulgation-freedom-information-act
‘Provocative’ music video taken down by CSOs
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). ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/provocative-music-video-taken-down-csos
NEC rejects reform requests from minor parties, form 1102 access restricted
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. ...
Ouch Sony
https://vodenglish.news/nec-rejects-reform-requests-from-minor-parties-form-1102-access-restricted/
Kandal residents near new airport asked to take down structures
Kandal residents affected by the new airport development said they were told by company workers to dismantle small sheds they use to house animals, causing anxiety among people that their land could be cleared soon. Residents in four communes of Kandal Stung district have been affected ...
Pa Sokheng
https://vodenglish.news/kandal-residents-near-new-airport-asked-to-take-down-structures/
An indigenous Punong human rights defender describes struggle and experience
After going through countless obstacles, an indigenous Punong, Mr. Kreung Tola, who loves to protect the environment, forest and land tenure, have become a human rights defender at the human rights organization in a district. ...
Hay Setha
https://khmer.cambojanews.com/an-indigenous-man-became-human-rights-defender/
Appeal court upholds Son Chhay defamation ruling, ups damages owed to CPP to $1 million
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 ...
Sorn Sarath
https://cambojanews.com/appeal-court-upholds-son-chhay-defamation-ruling-ups-damages-owed-to-cpp-to-1-million/
Southeast Asia journalist organizations launch regional collaboration
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. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/southeast-asia-journalist-organizations-launch-regional-collaboration/
Young indigenous women live in the society that lack of information
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. ...
Chea Sokny
https://www.postkhmer.com/national/2022-12-06-1756-244406.html
With vague details, pro-government unions accuse labor groups of inciting members to form new union
Some 200 unions and federations have accused two prominent independent labor organizations of inciting its members to leave and establish a new union. The claim was denied by one of organizations, which said it has never trained members of any of the signatories — many ...
Khuon Narim and Phon Sotthyroth
https://cambojanews.com/with-vague-details-pro-government-unions-accuse-labor-groups-of-inciting-members-to-form-new-union/
Ahead of 2023 elections, press freedom continues to lag, CCHR says
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. ...
Phon Sotthyroth
https://cambojanews.com/ahead-of-2023-elections-press-freedom-continues-to-lag-cchr-says/
Eliminate violence against women, most widespread, pervasive human rights violation
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is not only one of the worst forms of discrimination but also remains the most widespread and pervasive human rights violations in the world, 11 UN entities said on Friday, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501192440/eliminate-violence-against-women-most-widespread-pervasive-human-rights-violation/
Supreme court upholds 2018 “Adhoc 5” bribery convictions
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the 2018 bribery convictions of five current and former staffers of human rights group Adhoc, concluding the appeal process in a criminal case that critics have said failed to substantiate the charges. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/supreme-court-upholds-2018-adhoc-5-bribery-convictions/
AICHR reaffirms commitment to promoting, protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501188577/aichr-reaffirms-commitment-to-promoting-protecting-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms/
ASEAN human rights meeting under way in Siem Reap
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR Cambodia) is hosting the second Special Meeting 2022 of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and related meetings to discuss several issues, including environmental challenges and human rights in ASEAN. ...
Lay Samean
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/asean-human-rights-meeting-under-way-siem-reap
Media literacy becoming important, say NGOs and ministries
Media literacy refers to the ability to think objectively about the information a person comes into contact with through general media and, increasingly, social media. It is a common goal of the government and civil society organisations to bring this knowledge to the Cambodian people, ...
Keo Bosaba
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/media-literacy-becoming-important-say-ngos-and-ministries