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Cambodia: immediately quash convictions of opposition activists for insurrection
Cambodian authorities must immediately quash the convictions for insurrection handed down to eleven opposition party activists on 21 April, the ICJ said today. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced the National Rescue Party (CNRP) activists to between seven and 20 years in prison following an unfair trial. “These men were grossly over-charged with insurrection in the first place,” said Kingsley Abbott, ICJ International Legal Adviser. “The fact they have now been handed down disproportionately severe sentences following an unfair trial only serves to underscore that a serious miscarriage of justice has taken place in violation of Cambodia’s international obligations,” he added.
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CCHR’s Analysis and Key Recommendations on LANGO
On 5 June 2015, the Council of Ministers approved the fifth draft of the Law on Association and Non- Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”). After minor changes were made to the text, including the creditable elimination of the 25% budget cap on administrative costs, the draft was sent to the National Assembly in mid-June.
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LICADHO condemns the conviction and sentencing of 11 CNRP officials and supporters
July 21, 2015 - This afternoon, 11 officials and supporters of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) were convicted of charges relating to insurrection and sentenced to between seven and 20 years imprisonment. They were taken to CC1 prison immediately following the sentencing. Only one of the nine defense lawyers was present for today’s hearing after the eight other lawyers allegedly boycotted the trial. When judges unexpectedly called for closing arguments, the defendants requested a delay until their lawyers could attend. The judges denied the request and deliberated for just 15 minutes before returning with the verdicts and sentences. As they began to deliberate, police and military police entered the courtroom and the road outside the courtroom was simultaneously blocked.
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Statement by the Spokesperson on the Law on Associations and NGOs in Cambodia
"On 13 July a Law on Associations and NGOs passed through Parliament in Cambodia. The law touches on sensitive issues requiring in-depth consultation of all stakeholders. Regrettably, a number of important concerns were not sufficiently taken into consideration. The law has the potential to considerably restrict the activity of NGOs. In any country, a vibrant civil society is a prerequisite for the realisation of full social, economic and political potential. Associations and NGOs, both local and international, have contributed greatly to the rebuilding of Cambodian society. Development cooperation between the EU and Cambodia relies to a large degree on NGOs. Full respect of the constitutional provisions concerning pluralism and freedom of association and expression must be upheld."
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Civil Society Calls On Senate to Reject LANGO
July 14, 2015 - We, the undersigned civil society groups, condemn the Cambodian People’s Party’s unanimous approval yesterday of the repressive and unnecessary Law on Associations and Non-Government Organizations (LANGO) and call on the Senate to reject the law. The vote at yesterday’s extraordinary session of the National Assembly is a catastrophic development for civil society in Cambodia and is a major step in the government’s wider campaign to undermine democracy and restrict citizens’ rights and freedoms.
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Cambodia: Approved NGO law poised to hobble the work of civil society
Bangkok, Thailand --- The ICJ today condemned the approval by the Cambodian Peoples’ Party (CPP) of a law which aims to pose obstacles to and restrictions on the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to be officially registered in the country. In June and July 2015, the ICJ and other international human rights groups sent joint letters to the Government of Cambodia, including to Prime Minister Hun Sen and the President of the National Assembly, urging for the withdrawal of the draft law. Today, the Cambodian National Assembly unanimously approved the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (draft LANGO) promoted by the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) after 55 members of the opposition party, Cambodia National Rescue Party, decided to boycott the vote. All 68 members of the CPP, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, attended the plenary session of the National Assembly and voted in favor of the draft law.
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CCHR Calls for the Unconditional Rejection of LANGO
One day before the holding of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights urges the National Assembly to firmly reject the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”).
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CCHR urges the National Assembly to ensure meaningful consultations on the LANGO before a vote
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) urges once again the National Assembly to stop the rushed adoption process of the 5th draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”) and to ensure meaningful consultations with all relevant stakeholders before scheduling a vote meeting. According to the available information, the National Assembly is reportedly set to hold an extraordinary session on 10 July 2015 where the LANGO is to be discussed and is likely to be approved, despite none of the concerns expressed by civil society actors and other expert voices have been addressed or even given consideration.
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Consolidation of Legal Analysis over draft Law on Association and None Government Organization (LANGO)
Article 1 of LANGO states its purpose is to guarantee and protect the right to freedom of association, but this draft does not grant any rights to associations and NGOs, except for the right to tax exemption for donations under the Law on Taxation and other laws. Only conditions and a long list of obligations are imposed on the associations and NGOs.
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Cambodia: Immediately withdraw draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO)
Forty international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and membership organizations call on the government of Cambodia to immediately withdraw the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO). This legislation, if adopted, would seriously damage the ability of many domestic and international associations and NGOs, as well as community-based advocacy movements, to work effectively in Cambodia.
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UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Annual Report 2014
UN Women Asia-Pacific worked in 2014 across 32 countries regionally in collaboration with governments, civil society organizations, the private sector and the UN system. Our work reached the most marginalized women and girls by tackling stark and rising inequalities and multiple forms of discrimination. We utilized a range of approaches: partnering with governments in their programmes to advance women’s rights; supporting feminist and women’s movements to exert influence in policy decisions; encouraging greater contributions of men as gender equality advocates; and advocating for increased investments to realize gender equality. This Annual Report, the first to be produced by the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, documents this work.
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