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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Preah Vihear
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
6 youth activists are arrested in Phnom Penh after a protest against the LANGO. Authorities say the six, who were dressed in prison uniforms and had their legs chained together, were detained for failing to ask permission to protest.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Ny Chakrya, head of monitoring at ADHOC, is questioned over defamation claims at Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The charges stem from claims made by Mr Chakrya that two farmers were unlawfully arrested in a dispute with an agricultural firm in Siem Reap.
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Phnom Penh
Convictions of human rights defenders
After refusing to vacate a plot of land in the Boeung Kak 1 area of Phnom Penh, land rights activists Ly Sreakheng, Mak Seavhoung, and Ly Seavminh, are convicted of using violence against a possessor in good faith of immovable property and sentenced to six months in prison. The sentence comes in the context of a long-running land dispute.
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Phnom Penh
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
Mother Nature activists Sorn Chandara, Doem Kundy, and Chek Netra, were arrested following a peaceful demonstration in front of the National Assembly. Dit Sothy, a member of staff at ADHOC who was monitoring the demonstration, was also arrested.
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Phnom Penh
Legislative and institutional developments relevant to human rights
Human Rights Watch urge Prime Minister Hun Sen to misspelt revisions to a draft Trade Union Law. In an open letter to the Prime Minister the group suggest that the bill, which places restrictions on union registration and leadership eligibility, falls short of international labor standards.
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Phnom Penh
Legislative and institutional developments relevant to human rights
The Law on the Organization and Function of the National Election Committee and the Law on Election of Members of the National Assembly (“LEMNA”) are passed by the Government. The laws are adopted following a rushed and opaque process, and are criticised by civil society in view of the vague, sweeping powers they offer the Government in contravention of the freedom of expression.
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Phnom Penh
Convictions of human rights defenders
Human rights lawyer Choung Chou-Ngy was convicted of, “procuring means of escape”, after helping to secure the release of land activist Meas Peng from prison. CNRP lawmaker Chan Cheng was convicted of the same offence after collecting Mr Peng from prison.
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Phnom Penh
Physical and judicial threats against journalists and or human rights defenders
Spanish activist Alex Gonzalez-Davidson was threatened with deportation in what appeared to be an attempt to put a stop to his environmental and human rights activism in the Areng Valley.
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