The timeline below offers a visual representation of some of the key human rights violations and restrictions which have occurred in the Kingdom of Cambodia from 2013-2023, and follows our previous timeline covering 1993-2012 which can still be accessed here. The incidents recorded on the timeline from 2013-2023 represent human rights violations by the Royal Government of Cambodia as well as third parties, cover a wide range of issues including extrajudicial killings, convictions of human rights defenders, land grabs, forced evictions, restrictions of the rights to peaceful assembly, association and expression, torture, arrests, arbitrary detention and legislative and institutional developments relevant to human rights. The information is gathered from the Khmer and English media, CCHR’s own Fundamental Freedoms Monitoring Project, and from the commentary and analysis of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on these issues. Each entry is accompanied by a short description and provides links to media articles reporting on the event or to the work of CSOs active in the field. It should not be forgotten that the cases included in the timeline are those that have garnered the attention of the media or CSOs, and are as such particularly emblematic or high-profile. The timeline is therefore only representative of a small fraction of the actual number of human rights violations occurring in Cambodia.
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Shukaku Inc., a private company, was awarded a 99-year lease contract for 133 hectares of Boeung Kak Lak in Phnom Penh, by the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite complaints by a number of NGOs that the contract violated Cambodian laws.
Restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association
Shukaku Inc., a private company, was awarded a 99-year lease contract for 133 hectares of Boeung Kak Lak in Phnom Penh, by the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite complaints by a number of NGOs that the contract violated Cambodian laws.
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Shukaku Inc., a private company, was awarded a 99-year lease contract for 133 hectares of Boeung Kak Lak in Phnom Penh, by the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite complaints by a number of NGOs that the contract violated Cambodian laws.
Restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association
Shukaku Inc., a private company, was awarded a 99-year lease contract for 133 hectares of Boeung Kak Lak in Phnom Penh, by the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite complaints by a number of NGOs that the contract violated Cambodian laws.
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Shukaku Inc., a private company, was awarded a 99-year lease contract for 133 hectares of Boeung Kak Lak in Phnom Penh, by the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite complaints by a number of NGOs that the contract violated Cambodian laws.
Land rights and forced evictions
Shukaku Inc., a private company, was awarded a 99-year lease contract for 133 hectares of Boeung Kak Lak in Phnom Penh, by the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite complaints by a number of NGOs that the contract violated Cambodian laws.
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Shukaku Inc., a private company, was awarded a 99-year lease contract for 133 hectares of Boeung Kak Lak in Phnom Penh, by the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite complaints by a number of NGOs that the contract violated Cambodian laws.
Land rights and forced evictions
Shukaku Inc., a private company, was awarded a 99-year lease contract for 133 hectares of Boeung Kak Lak in Phnom Penh, by the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite complaints by a number of NGOs that the contract violated Cambodian laws.
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Sen Sithourn, General Secretary of the Free Trade Union at the Shoes Premier factory in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, was attacked by a group of four or five unidentified men on his way home from work and beaten on the head with a pipe.
Assassinations and extra-judicial executions of prominent figures, journalists, celebrities or outspoken dissidents
Sen Sithourn, General Secretary of the Free Trade Union at the Shoes Premier factory in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, was attacked by a group of four or five unidentified men on his way home from work and beaten on the head with a pipe.
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Sen Sithourn, General Secretary of the Free Trade Union at the Shoes Premier factory in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, was attacked by a group of four or five unidentified men on his way home from work and beaten on the head with a pipe.
Assassinations and extra-judicial executions of prominent figures, journalists, celebrities or outspoken dissidents
Sen Sithourn, General Secretary of the Free Trade Union at the Shoes Premier factory in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, was attacked by a group of four or five unidentified men on his way home from work and beaten on the head with a pipe.
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Sen Sithourn, General Secretary of the Free Trade Union at the Shoes Premier factory in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, was attacked by a group of four or five unidentified men on his way home from work and beaten on the head with a pipe.
Physical threats and judicial threats against journalists and/or human rights defenders
Sen Sithourn, General Secretary of the Free Trade Union at the Shoes Premier factory in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, was attacked by a group of four or five unidentified men on his way home from work and beaten on the head with a pipe.
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Sen Sithourn, General Secretary of the Free Trade Union at the Shoes Premier factory in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, was attacked by a group of four or five unidentified men on his way home from work and beaten on the head with a pipe.
Physical threats and judicial threats against journalists and/or human rights defenders
Sen Sithourn, General Secretary of the Free Trade Union at the Shoes Premier factory in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, was attacked by a group of four or five unidentified men on his way home from work and beaten on the head with a pipe.
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Yeng Socheat, a 17-year-old villager from Prey Veng province, was fatally shot when 20 armed men opened fire on a group of unarmed villagers who had tried to approach Peam Chor deputy district governor Y Sam Ol in the context of a land dispute.
Assassinations and extra-judicial executions of prominent figures, journalists, celebrities or outspoken dissidents
Yeng Socheat, a 17-year-old villager from Prey Veng province, was fatally shot when 20 armed men opened fire on a group of unarmed villagers who had tried to approach Peam Chor deputy district governor Y Sam Ol in the context of a land dispute.
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Yeng Socheat, a 17-year-old villager from Prey Veng province, was fatally shot when 20 armed men opened fire on a group of unarmed villagers who had tried to approach Peam Chor deputy district governor Y Sam Ol in the context of a land dispute.
Assassinations and extra-judicial executions of prominent figures, journalists, celebrities or outspoken dissidents
Yeng Socheat, a 17-year-old villager from Prey Veng province, was fatally shot when 20 armed men opened fire on a group of unarmed villagers who had tried to approach Peam Chor deputy district governor Y Sam Ol in the context of a land dispute.
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Around 1,367 families from Sambok Chab in Phnom Penh were violently evicted and relocated to Trapeang Anchanh, approximately 20km from Phnom Penh, in order to make way for the development of a shopping center by the Sour Srun company.
Land rights and forced evictions
Around 1,367 families from Sambok Chab in Phnom Penh were violently evicted and relocated to Trapeang Anchanh, approximately 20km from Phnom Penh, in order to make way for the development of a shopping center by the Sour Srun company.
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Around 1,367 families from Sambok Chab in Phnom Penh were violently evicted and relocated to Trapeang Anchanh, approximately 20km from Phnom Penh, in order to make way for the development of a shopping center by the Sour Srun company.
Land rights and forced evictions
Around 1,367 families from Sambok Chab in Phnom Penh were violently evicted and relocated to Trapeang Anchanh, approximately 20km from Phnom Penh, in order to make way for the development of a shopping center by the Sour Srun company.
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The 1993 Constitution was amended for the fifth time, in relation to the quorum and voting of the National Assembly and Senate
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
The 1993 Constitution was amended for the fifth time, in relation to the quorum and voting of the National Assembly and Senate
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The 1993 Constitution was amended for the fifth time, in relation to the quorum and voting of the National Assembly and Senate
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
The 1993 Constitution was amended for the fifth time, in relation to the quorum and voting of the National Assembly and Senate
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Opposition politician Sam Rainsy was convicted in absentia on two charges of criminal defamation and sentenced to 18 months in prison .
Convictions of human rights defenders
Opposition politician Sam Rainsy was convicted in absentia on two charges of criminal defamation and sentenced to 18 months in prison .
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Opposition politician Sam Rainsy was convicted in absentia on two charges of criminal defamation and sentenced to 18 months in prison .
Convictions of human rights defenders
Opposition politician Sam Rainsy was convicted in absentia on two charges of criminal defamation and sentenced to 18 months in prison .
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The 1993 Constitution was amended for the fourth time, in relation to the quorum and voting of the National Assembly and the Senate.
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
The 1993 Constitution was amended for the fourth time, in relation to the quorum and voting of the National Assembly and the Senate.
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The 1993 Constitution was amended for the fourth time, in relation to the quorum and voting of the National Assembly and the Senate.
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
The 1993 Constitution was amended for the fourth time, in relation to the quorum and voting of the National Assembly and the Senate.
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Thach Saveth, a former paratrooper in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (“RCAF”), was arrested on the alleged charge of the murder of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ros Sovannareth.
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Thach Saveth, a former paratrooper in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (“RCAF”), was arrested on the alleged charge of the murder of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ros Sovannareth.
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Thach Saveth, a former paratrooper in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (“RCAF”), was arrested on the alleged charge of the murder of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ros Sovannareth.
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Thach Saveth, a former paratrooper in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (“RCAF”), was arrested on the alleged charge of the murder of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ros Sovannareth.