Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)

57 civil society groups, including IFEX, have signed a statement urging the Cambodian government to stop harassing independent media outlets and their journalists. Between January and May 2020, Cambodian authorities have summoned and questioned at least a dozen journalists for their reporting.

ARTICLE 19 and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights’ full statement during the interactive dialogue on Cambodia at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council.

The draft Law on Public Order raises serious concerns for the exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly and association in Cambodia, allows for arbitrary infringements on the right to freedom of expression and will exacerbate discrimination against women.

Covering the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, the monitoring report showed that the space to exercise fundamental freedoms continues to be restricted in Cambodia.

30 organizations, including IFEX, have signed a statement asking Cambodia to create an independent and impartial commission to thoroughly investigate the murder of political analyst Kem Ley in 2016, and bring all those responsible to justice.

133 civil society groups have signed a statement calling for the release of imprisoned journalists Sok Oudom and Sovann Rithy and to halt all harassment of other journalists in Cambodia facing prosecution for their critical reporting.

15 civil society groups in Cambodia have endorsed a paper outlining several demands aimed at preventing gender-based violence as the country deals with the spread of COVID-19.

There is concern about the impact that the law has on local grassroots groups and associations; they are key to ensuring citizens’ voices are heard when decisions are made regarding their land and livelihoods and LANGO unduly restricts their ability to organise.