Cambodia

[Press Release] Cambodia added to human rights watchlist as Prime Minister Hun Sen oversees systematic assault on fundamental freedoms
17 February 2023 5:55 am

Cambodia has been added to a watchlist of countries that have seen a rapid decline in civic freedoms. Repressive laws are routinely misused to restrict civic freedoms and criminalise human rights defenders, trade unionists, youth activists, journalists, opposition politicians and other critical voices. Prime Minister Hun Sen has also used the COVID-19 pandemic as a [ Read more ]

[Joint Statement] Media and Civil Society Groups Deeply Disturbed by Government’s Decision to Revoke VOD’s Media License and the Sexual Harassment of a Female Reporter
14 February 2023 1:18 pm

We, the undersigned media and civil society organizations, are deeply disturbed by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s order to revoke the license of Voice of Democracy (VOD), one of the last remaining independent media outlets in Cambodia. We also condemn the recent sexual harassment and intimidation of a female VOD journalist. The closure of VOD and the harassment [ Read more ]

[Joint Statement] Cambodia: Blocking of music video another blow to freedom of expression
23 January 2023 11:54 am

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), and Asia Democracy Network (ADN) are appalled that the Cambodian authorities have ordered for a music video by a rapper that recounts a deadly government crackdown on a workers’ protest nine years ago to be removed from a social media page. [ Read more ]

[Joint Statement] Cambodia: Release union leader Chhim Sithar immediately and halt the harassment of strikers
1 December 2022 12:55 pm

CIVICUS and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) condemn the recent arbitrary arrest of labour activist, Chhim Sithar, and call for her immediate and unconditional release. The government of Cambodia must also stop the judicial harassment against her and other trade union activists in the country. Chhim Sithar is the recently re-elected President [ Read more ]

[Joint Statement] Cambodia Should Scrap Rights-Abusing National Internet Gateway
16 May 2022 11:37 am

We, the following 32 human rights organizations, call on the Cambodian authorities to revoke the Sub-Decree on the Establishment of the National Internet Gateway (NIG). Since passage of the sub-decree on February 16, 2021, the government has yet to address the serious human rights concerns raised by civil society groups and tech companies. At the [ Read more ]

[Joint Statement] Cambodia: Wanchalearm Satsaksit Remains Missing as UN Body Begins Review of Enforced Disappearances in Cambodia
22 April 2022 1:41 pm

April 4, 2022 – We, the undersigned organisations, remain deeply concerned about Cambodia’s failure to conduct a thorough, independent, transparent, and effective investigation into the suspected enforced disappearance of Thai activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit and the resulting impunity. As the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) prepares for a preliminary review of the situation of enforced disappearances in [ Read more ]

HRC49 Oral Statement on Item 10: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia (oral update)
1 April 2022 10:53 am

49th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 10: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia (oral update) Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 29 March 2022    Madam Vice President, We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s [ Read more ]

[Joint Statement] Abolish Slave Compounds in Cambodia
11 March 2022 11:10 am

Abolish Slave Compounds in Cambodia 10 March 2022 We are deeply disturbed by reports of widespread human trafficking into Cambodia leading to forced labour, slavery and torture at compounds across the country. Dozens of media reports and numerous victim accounts collected by local and international organisations suggest that thousands of people, mostly foreign nationals, are [ Read more ]

[HRC49 Side Event] Defenders in Asia: Holding the line amid mounting challenges
2 March 2022 8:07 pm

Date: Tuesday, 8 March 2022 Time: 13:00 – 14:30 (CET, Geneva) / 19:00 – 20:30 (ICT, Bangkok) Register here: l.forum-asia.org/HRC48.HRD.Register Live via: Zoom, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Youtube Human rights defenders (HRDs) play a key role in upholding and advancing human rights. In response to their bold and tireless work, HRDs become targets of harassment and attacks by [ Read more ]

[Media Lines] ASEAN: ASEAN must block Myanmar’s military junta participation from all its platforms
17 February 2022 1:57 pm

ASEAN must block Myanmar’s military junta participation from all its platforms In response to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting taking place this week, FORUM-ASIA Executive Director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said: FORUM-ASIA welcomes the exclusion of the Myanmar military junta’s Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin from the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat, and reiterates its call to ensure [ Read more ]