CCHR's Briefing Note provides an overview of media regulation in Cambodia and its implications for freedom of expression. It confirms the need for comprehensive media regulation in several key areas and for less restrictive regulation - which in practice amounts to censorship - in others.
On the occasion of World Radio Day 2014, on 13 February 2014 the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) released a Briefing Note on Media Regulation and Freedom of Expression in the Kingdom of Cambodia (“Cambodia”). The Briefing Note provides an overview of media regulation in Cambodia and its implications for freedom of expression. It confirms the need for comprehensive media regulation in several key areas and for less restrictive regulation – which in practice amounts to censorship – in others.
The Briefing Note concludes with comprehensive recommendations to the Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”) with regards to media regulation in Cambodia, and in particular with regards to licensing, content regulation, ownership and plurality, censorship of media professionals, access to information and regulation of online media. Recommendations to the RGC, among many, include (1) amending and clarifying legislation related to licensing for media and content control; (2) establishing an independent watchdog composed of experts to regulate print media, and an independent regulatory body for broadcast media to promote diversity and restrict programming considered to be indecent or offensive; (3) establishing a public complaints procedure in order for content to be regulated with reference to the market-place rather than at the whim of the RGC; (4) implementing regulations related to the number of media that can be owned by one person or company; (5) strengthening mechanisms and legislation to ensure freedom of information; and (6) ensuring forthcoming cyber regulations respect freedom of expression and of the press online.
