Review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015

• Released Date: 19-Jul-2018
• Publication: Press Release

"Foreword In 2015 we changed what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) in Ireland with two historic steps - a resounding Yes in support of marriage equality by popular vote (and subsequent legislation) and the introduction of some of the most progressive Gender Recognition legislation in the world. Since then youth groups, schools, and other support services have witnessed a huge increase in the number of young people ‘coming out’ as they report a greater sense of being respected and protected by the State and a greater sense of acceptance and support from Irish people. "

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CCH R PRESS RELEASE – Phnom Penh, 2 3 November 2017 CCHR publishes new report on marriage, adoption, and gender recognition rights for LGBTIQ people in Cambodia, and urges the government to protect the rights of rainbow families

• Released Date: 23-Nov-2017
• Publication: Press Release

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) publishes today - 23 November 2017- a ground - breaking new research report entitled Cambodia’s Rainbow Families: Marriage, Adoption and Gender Recognition Rights in the Kingdom (the Report). It is available for download in both English and Khmeron CCHR’s website.

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Cambodia's Rainbow Families

• Released Date: 23-Nov-2017
• Publication: Report

This Report is an output of CCHR’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Project. The SOGI Project was launched in 2009 with the aim of empowering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) people, advocating for their rights and networking with various partners to increase the promotion and protection of LGBTIQ rights in Cambodia. ​

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MEDIA ALERT – Phnom Penh, 21 November 2017 CCHR press conference and photo exhibition to launch new report : Cambodia’s Rainbow Families : Marriage, Adoption and Gender Recognition Rights in the Kingdom

• Released Date: 21-Nov-2017
• Publication: Press Release

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) is pleased to announce that it will hold a press conference at 8:30am on Thursday, 23 November 2017 at Meta House to mark the launch of a new report entitled Cambodia’s Rainbow Families: Marriage, Adoption and Gender Recognition Rights in the Kingdom (the Report)

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CSOs congratulate Taiwan on marriage equality ruling, and call for same-sex marriage law in Cambodia

• Released Date: 31-May-2017
• Publication: Press Release

We, the undersigned civil societyorganizations (CSOs), congratulate the people of Taiwan – and especially itslesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community –regarding the 24 May ruling of Taiwan’s Constitutional Court, setting Taiwan onthe path to become the first jurisdiction in Asia to legalize marriage forsame-sex couples. In its ruling, the ConstitutionalCourt ruled that existing laws excluding LGBTIQ people from marriage wereunconstitutional and violated their basic human rights. It stated that a ban onsame-sex marriage was ‘a gross legislative flaw’ and ‘incompatible with thespirit and meaning of the freedom of marriage’ and ‘right to equality’.In thislandmark judgment, Taiwan becomes a trailblazer in respect of LGBTIQ rights inAsia, building momentum for marriage equality across the continent. We, theundersigned CSOs, take this historic opportunity to call upon the RoyalGovernment of Cambodia (RGC) to show its commitment to LGBTIQ rights bylegislating for same-sex marriage in Cambodia.

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On International Transgender Day of Visibility, CSOs call for acceptance and inclusion of transgender Cambodians and legislation to recognize gender identity in official documents

• Released Date: 31-Mar-2017
• Publication: Press Release

Today - 31 March 2017 - marks the eighth annual International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). On this day, we, the undersigned civil society organizations (CSOs), urge the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to take action to protect transgender rights, including the introduction of legislation giving effect to transgender people’s right to be legally recognized according to their self-defined gender. We further call upon the Cambodian public to accept, embrace and celebrate transgender Cambodians as full participants in Cambodian society and development.TDOV is a day of empowerment and celebration of the transgender community. This year’s theme is transgender resistance (#TransResistance); it encourages using visibility to counter transphobic sentiment, galvanize transgender people against persecution and promote transgender justice. Today is a day for discussion, education and action surrounding rights.In September 2016, a report entitled Discrimination against Transgender Women in Cambodia’s Urban Centers, exposed the alarming everyday harassment and discrimination that transgender women experience in Cambodia. It reported that nearly all respondents (92%) said they had experienced verbal harassment, 43% reported physical assault and 31% had been sexually assaulted while walking on the street. The research also found that traditional family values significantly impact the life of transgender people in Cambodia. Families of transgender Cambodians frequently fail to understand and accept them, with 49% reporting they felt they needed to leave home because of their trans identity. Over half of respondents said that a family member had tried to force them into a heterosexual marriage. Nearly six months since the damning report’s publication, little has been done to advance the rights of trans people. At the time of publication, government representatives rejected the report’s recommendation to introduce specific anti-discrimination legislation, claiming the existing legal framework is sufficient to protect transgender Cambodians. This report and government response reveal that there is a significant amount of work to be done to protect and promote the rights of transgender Cambodians.

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On Zero Discrimination Day, CSOs urge government to leave no one behind in Cambodia’s development

• Released Date: 01-Mar-2017
• Publication: Press Release

On the occasion of Zero Discrimination Day 2017, we, the undersigned organizations, call upon the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to respect, protect and promote the rights of all marginalized and discriminated groups in Cambodia, and to ensure that no one is left behind in Cambodia’s development, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We further call upon all Cambodians to accept and embrace members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, people with disabilities, ethnic and racial minorities and all other marginalized groups.01 March 2017 is Zero Discrimination Day, a global initiative designed to combat the mistreatment, stigmatization and marginalization of people within society by promoting acceptance, equality and equitable treatment of all people globally. Discrimination has many forms, from racial or religious discrimination, to discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation or age, to bullying at school or at work.1 Zero Discrimination Day recognizes that the mistreatment of minority groups is a global issue and that through people, communities and nations collaborating together, the rights, freedoms and liberties of oppressed members of society can be better preserved and protected. Ensuring that these groups are full and equal partners in Cambodia’s development is a crucial component of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.The struggles of minority groups have been well documented in recent times in Cambodia. Recent research reports have uncovered widespread discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity2 as well as on the basis of ethnicity.3 Marginalized groups in Cambodia are especially vulnerable because of a lack of any legislation explicitly prohibiting discrimination. A vital step in building a more inclusive Cambodia is the introduction of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation as a matter of priority. With Cambodia undergoing rapid development, it is vital that all sectors of society, including the most marginalized groups, are given a voice in determining and shaping the journey towards development. We extend our concern to those affected by discrimination on the basis of social status, including human rights defenders, as recently recognized by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.4 We call upon the Cambodian authorities to take decisive action to ensure the full participation of marginalized groups in crafting an equitable form of development that benefits all Cambodians.

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CCHR publishes report revealing shocking levels of discrimination against transgender women in Cambodia, and urges government to take immediate action to protect trans rights

• Released Date: 21-Sep-2016
• Publication: Press Release

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) publishes today - 21 September 2016 - a research report entitled Discrimination against Transgender Women in Cambodia’s Urban Centers (the Report). It is available for download in both English and Khmer on CCHR’s website. The Report is produced by CCHR’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Project and is the product of research conducted in the Kingdom of Cambodia (Cambodia)’s urban centers on the prevalence and forms of discrimination against transgender (trans) women.The Report is based on the findings of CCHR’s field research, collected through 135 surveys conducted in April 2016 in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk and Battambang provinces. The survey asked respondents about their experiences and perceptions of discrimination based on their gender identity / expression, both from state (e.g. police, local authorities and schools) and non-state (e.g. family, employment, relationships) actors. The report also analyzes the legal, social and cultural context in which Cambodia’s trans women live.CCHR’s research reveals that Cambodian trans women are subject to shockingly high levels of discrimination. Nearly all of the trans women surveyed by CCHR experienced some kind of harassment while in public spaces because of their trans identities, in most cases multiple times over the past 12 months. This proportion of respondents who have experienced verbal abuse (92%), physical violence (43%), sexual assault (31%) and rape (25%) in public spaces because of their trans identities shows that Cambodian streets are alarmingly unsafe spaces for trans women. Discrimination in employment is another serious issue uncovered by this research, with 34% of respondents reporting being refused employment, and 25% reporting dismissal from employment, due to their trans identities.

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Discrimination Against Transgender Women in Cambodia’s Urban Centers

• Released Date: 21-Sep-2016
• Publication: Report

This report research (the Report) documents human rights issues faced by transgender women in Cambodia’s urban center, and commends actions to secure their rights to equality, dignity, health and security. The report was produced by CCHR’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Project, launched in 2010 with the aim of empowering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people and advocating for their rights in Cambodia.

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CCHR press conference to launch research report entitled “Discrimination Against Transgender Women in Cambodia’s Urban Centers”

• Released Date: 19-Sep-2016
• Publication: Press Release

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) announces that it will hold a press conference at 8.30am on Wednesday 21 September 2016 at CCHR’s office to mark the launch of a new research report entitled Discrimination Against Transgender Women in Cambodia’s Urban Centers (the Report).The Report is based on the findings of CCHR’s field research, collected through 135 surveys conducted in April 2016 in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk and Battambang provinces. The survey asked respondents about their experiences and perceptions of discrimination based on their gender identity / expression, both from state (e.g. police, local authorities and schools) and non-state (e.g. family, employment, relationships) actors. The report also analyzes the legal, social and cultural context in which Cambodia’s trans women live.CCHR’s research reveals that Cambodian trans women are subject to shockingly high levels of discrimination in many areas of their lives. Nearly all of the trans women surveyed by CCHR experienced some kind of harassment while in public spaces because of their trans identities, in most cases multiple times over the past 12 months. This proportion of respondents who had experienced verbal abuse, physical violence, sexual assault and rape in public spaces because of their trans identities is truly shocking and shows that Cambodian streets are alarmingly unsafe spaces for trans women. Discrimination in employment is another serious issue uncovered by this research, with large numbers of respondents reporting being refused employment, and many more reporting dismissal from employment, due to their trans identities.

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On the occasion of IDAHOT 2016, civil society and businesses call for full equality for Cambodia’s vibrant LGBT population

• Released Date: 17-May-2016
• Publication: Press Release

On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) 2016,we, the undersigned civil society organizations (CSOs) and businesses, join together with othersaround the world to take part in Pride 2016, which celebrates the lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgender (LGBT) members of our societies. In Cambodia, civil society and the government havemade great strides toward the advancement of LGBT rights and inclusion in recent times. However,there are still significant steps that need to be taken to ensure equality for all. The theme of thisyear’s IDAHOT is ‘mental health and wellbeing’, drawing attention to the harmful effects thatdiscrimination and stigma have on LGBT people.A recent research report entitled Opinions, Attitudes and Behavior Toward the LGBT Population inCambodia, published by Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK) and TNS Cambodia, showed aperception among both straight and LGBT people (86% and 82% of respondents, respectively) that the biggest problem LGBT people face in Cambodia is discrimination based on their sexuality. One third of LGBT people surveyed reported suffering from a lack of concentration, sleeping disorders and feeling hopeless or helpless. These feelings are both caused and made worse by widespread discrimination in society, creating a dangerous negative spiral that too many fall into.

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On the occasion of Zero Discrimination Day, CCHR publishes a timeline of Cambodian LGBTI history and calls on the Royal Government of Cambodia to introduce Anti-Discrimination Legislation

• Released Date: 01-Mar-2016
• Publication: Press Release

Today - on the occasion of Zero Discrimination Day 2016 - the Cambodian Center for Human Rights(CCHR) publishes an interactive timeline detailing some of the major events in the development of Cambodia’s LGBTI rights movement, and calls upon the RGC to introduce legislative protection for LGBTI people as a matter of priority.The Cambodian Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity / Expression (SOGIE) Timeline charts the enormous progress made by Cambodia’s LGBTI rights movement from 1994 through to the present day, by highlighting statements of political support, government actions and legislative changes which have impacted the lives of LGBTI Cambodians. In recent months and years, public and political support for LGBTI equality has gathered significant momentum. As more and more people begin to understand SOGIE issues, Cambodia’s LGBTI community is growing in confidence and moving closer to true equality. Today, we celebrate Cambodia’s LGBTI community and recall that all human beings are born free and equal, and have a fundamental human right to be free from discrimination of all kinds. The Cambodian SOGIE Timeline is now online in Khmer and English.

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