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Joint Statement: States & investors have a responsibility to curtail the abuse of spyware
We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, call on the governments convening the Summit for Democracy 2023 to prioritise human rights due diligence for spyware technologies on the Summit’s agenda. We have witnessed and reported on how spyware has been repeatedly used to silence journalists, surveil human rights defenders, muzzle dissent, suppress freedom of expression of minorities, target LGBTQ+ persons and women, intimidate academia and discourage peaceful protests. To achieve greater transparency, accountability, peace and a more prosperous future for all, in alignment with the stated objective of the Summit, states and investors must act to prevent the proliferation and abuse of spyware. The unlawful and arbitrary use of spyware has a direct and often disproportionate impact on the right to privacy and degrades other human rights and civic freedoms. 1 For example, NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware is linked to at least 300 acts of physical violence in more than 45 countries worldwide. Women, LGBTQ+ persons and other vulnerable communities targeted by spyware face distinct risks of social exclusion, physical, psychological and sexual violence.
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Infographics on Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Today, 8 March 2023, marks International Women’s Day of 8 March 2023. CCHR releases a series of infographics on Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The infographics provide an overview of the rights of GBV victims, GBV in numbers, and the international and domestic legal framework which guarantees those rights.
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Press Release Celebration of the 112th Anniversary of International Women’s Day under the topic “Protecting Women and Girls for Inclusive Justice”
We, a group of civil society organizations (CSOs) including unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and associations working for promoting women’s rights and gender equality in Cambodia, such as the Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF), Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), Cambodian Alliance of Trade Union (CATU), Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (BWTUC), Labour Right Supported Union (LRSU), Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), Cambodian Youth Network Association (CYN), Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP), Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), Sahmakum Teang Tnaut Organization (STT), Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Klahaan Organization, and Equitable Cambodia (EC), have the honor to inform the general public, and national and international journalists that we are going to celebrate the 112th anniversary of the International Women’s Day . The topic for the 2023 commemoration is “Protecting Women and Girls for Inclusive Justice”.
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The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) Celebrates International Women’s Day
International Women's Day (“IWD”), celebrated annually on 8 March, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality. The theme for 2023’s IWD is: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.”
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Joint Solidarity Statement Cambodia: Reverse Voice of Democracy's closure and ensure an enabling environment for independent media outlets
We, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Free Expression Myanmar, ILGA Asia, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with independent media, and call on the government to reverse its decision to revoke the license of Voice of Democracy (VOD), the leading bastion of independent journalism in Cambodia. We condemn the government’s grip on independent news outlets and ongoing digital dictatorship, which undermine free press and hinder the flow of information in the country ahead of the upcoming elections. We also condemn the avalanche of misogynistic abuse against a female VOD journalist.
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Open Letter To Her Excellency Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women's Affairs His Excellency Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information Her Excellency Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts His Excellency Chea Vandeth, Minister of Post and Tel
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, who work to promote women's rights and gender equality in Cambodia, acknowledge the will and efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia in promoting women's rights and gender equality in various fields, especially in fulfilling the obligations as a State Party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as well as through the implementation of national laws and policies.
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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
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.
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MEDIA ALERT Revocation of License of Voice of Democracy (VoD)
On 9 February 2023, the Voice of Democracy (VoD) released an article quoting government spokesperson Mr. Phay Siphan stating that Mr. Hun Manet, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who recently took the role of his father,had signed a budget contribution of $100.000 to support Turkey after the recent earthquake in the country and its neighbor Syria. According to Mr. Siphan, it was consistent to have Mr. Manet signing on the aid agreement because the premier was on a mission; however, Mr. Hun Manet denied the information reported in the article released by VoD saying he did not sign any budget contribution for Turkey. On 11 February 2023, after Mr. Manet’s reaction, the premier explained the process of the national budget management in order to clarify the confusion among the public. Moreover, the premier demanded VoD to publicly apologize to the government and his son within 24 hours, in response to a comment on the case made by one user on its Facebook page. He had previously given 72 hours to VoD to verify the facts and sources, and to apologize for the false report.
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FACT SHEET : COMMUNITY FISHERIES AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN CAMBODIA’S COASTAL AREAS
Today, on 31 January 2023, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights ("CCHR") releases a third fact sheet on community fisheries and development projects in Cambodia's coastal areas. This factsheet builds upon two previous fact sheets released by CCHR in 2021 and 2022 and wraps up its field research on two development projects threatening CFi in the coastal areas of Kampot and Kep provinces: one involving the company OMNI Kampot Development Co., Ltd (“OMNI company”) and the other involving the company Ching Kor Import Export Co., Ltd (“Ching Kor company”). In addition, some other development projects threatening CFis are also shown in this factsheet. This fact sheet concludes with tangible recommendations to the Royal Government of Cambodia (“RGC”) and businesses in order to improve respect for fishing and land rights and fundamental freedoms along the coast and across the country.
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the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Human Rights Committee Mechanism
Today, 30 January 2023, The CCHR’s Digital Rights, Expression and Media ("DREAM") Project is releasing an infographic called ‘the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”) and the Human Rights Committee Mechanism’, which explains the definition of ICCPR; the mandate of the Human Rights Committee; the review of state signatory to ICCPR, the obligation to submit the report of the signatory states and the implementation of the Committee's recommendations by the States Parties, as well as the engagement of civil society organizations in this mechanism.
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The State of Freedom of Expression, Press Freedom, and Access to Information in Cambodia
The present report outlines key information pertaining to the rights to freedom of expression, press freedom, and access to information and findings regarding the state of these rights in the Kingdom of Cambodia (“Cambodia”) over a period of a year, starting from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2022 (the “Reporting Period”). This annual report focuses more specifically on the right to freedom of expression of journalists and human rights defenders (“HRDs”) as well as on access to information of journalists, and the general public in Cambodia.
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The State of Freedom of Expression, Press Freedom, and Access to Information in Cambodia
The present report outlines key information pertaining to the rights to freedom of expression, press freedom, and access to information and findings regarding the state of these rights in the Kingdom of Cambodia (“Cambodia”) over a period of a year, starting from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021. This annual report focuses more specifically on the right to freedom of expression of journalists and human rights defenders (“HRDs”) as well as on access to information of journalists and the general public in Cambodia.
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