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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Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography was ratified by Cambodia following its signature in 2000.
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography was ratified by Cambodia following its signature in 2000.
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Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography was ratified by Cambodia following its signature in 2000.
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography was ratified by Cambodia following its signature in 2000.
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A boat driver working for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) to transport ethnic minority refugees was arrested on charges of human trafficking and spent 4 months in pre-trial detention before finally being released in August.
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
A boat driver working for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) to transport ethnic minority refugees was arrested on charges of human trafficking and spent 4 months in pre-trial detention before finally being released in August.
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A boat driver working for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) to transport ethnic minority refugees was arrested on charges of human trafficking and spent 4 months in pre-trial detention before finally being released in August.
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
A boat driver working for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) to transport ethnic minority refugees was arrested on charges of human trafficking and spent 4 months in pre-trial detention before finally being released in August.
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KKKHRA staff members were intimidated and detained by Kampong Thom provincial authorities as they were conducting an investigation into widespread destruction of the community fishing equipment.
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
KKKHRA staff members were intimidated and detained by Kampong Thom provincial authorities as they were conducting an investigation into widespread destruction of the community fishing equipment.
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KKKHRA staff members were intimidated and detained by Kampong Thom provincial authorities as they were conducting an investigation into widespread destruction of the community fishing equipment.
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
KKKHRA staff members were intimidated and detained by Kampong Thom provincial authorities as they were conducting an investigation into widespread destruction of the community fishing equipment.
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The 1993 Constitution was amended for the third time, in relation to the creation and conferring of national medals by the King
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
The 1993 Constitution was amended for the third time, in relation to the creation and conferring of national medals by the King
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The 1993 Constitution was amended for the third time, in relation to the creation and conferring of national medals by the King
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
The 1993 Constitution was amended for the third time, in relation to the creation and conferring of national medals by the King
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Prime Minister Hun Sen accused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (“UNHCHR”) of backing a teachers’ strike in Kandal province and also sent a warning to the UN Development Program (“UNDP”) about becoming involved.
Restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association
Prime Minister Hun Sen accused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (“UNHCHR”) of backing a teachers’ strike in Kandal province and also sent a warning to the UN Development Program (“UNDP”) about becoming involved.
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Prime Minister Hun Sen accused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (“UNHCHR”) of backing a teachers’ strike in Kandal province and also sent a warning to the UN Development Program (“UNDP”) about becoming involved.
Restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association
Prime Minister Hun Sen accused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (“UNHCHR”) of backing a teachers’ strike in Kandal province and also sent a warning to the UN Development Program (“UNDP”) about becoming involved.
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In the aftermath of the November 2000 attack in Phnom Penh by the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, Prime Minister Hun Sen accused human rights NGOs of encouraging terrorism by allegedly providing shelter and assistance to terrorist groups.
Physical threats and judicial threats against journalists and/or human rights defenders
In the aftermath of the November 2000 attack in Phnom Penh by the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, Prime Minister Hun Sen accused human rights NGOs of encouraging terrorism by allegedly providing shelter and assistance to terrorist groups.
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In the aftermath of the November 2000 attack in Phnom Penh by the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, Prime Minister Hun Sen accused human rights NGOs of encouraging terrorism by allegedly providing shelter and assistance to terrorist groups.
Physical threats and judicial threats against journalists and/or human rights defenders
In the aftermath of the November 2000 attack in Phnom Penh by the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, Prime Minister Hun Sen accused human rights NGOs of encouraging terrorism by allegedly providing shelter and assistance to terrorist groups.
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United Nations human rights workers were threatened at gun point by a soldier, because they intervened after the soldier threatened to shoot a parliamentarian of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (“SRP”).
Physical threats and judicial threats against journalists and/or human rights defenders
United Nations human rights workers were threatened at gun point by a soldier, because they intervened after the soldier threatened to shoot a parliamentarian of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (“SRP”).
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United Nations human rights workers were threatened at gun point by a soldier, because they intervened after the soldier threatened to shoot a parliamentarian of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (“SRP”).
Physical threats and judicial threats against journalists and/or human rights defenders
United Nations human rights workers were threatened at gun point by a soldier, because they intervened after the soldier threatened to shoot a parliamentarian of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (“SRP”).
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Staff members of the human rights NGO LICADHO who had provided assistance to trafficked garment workers from Vietnam were threatened with arrest.
Physical threats and judicial threats against journalists and/or human rights defenders
Staff members of the human rights NGO LICADHO who had provided assistance to trafficked garment workers from Vietnam were threatened with arrest.
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Staff members of the human rights NGO LICADHO who had provided assistance to trafficked garment workers from Vietnam were threatened with arrest.
Physical threats and judicial threats against journalists and/or human rights defenders
Staff members of the human rights NGO LICADHO who had provided assistance to trafficked garment workers from Vietnam were threatened with arrest.
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A group of armed men in military uniforms raided the home of Nhek Bun Chhay, a former senior member of the FUNCINPEC party who had become a Senator.
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
A group of armed men in military uniforms raided the home of Nhek Bun Chhay, a former senior member of the FUNCINPEC party who had become a Senator.
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A group of armed men in military uniforms raided the home of Nhek Bun Chhay, a former senior member of the FUNCINPEC party who had become a Senator.
Introduction of news laws, amendments to existing laws and establishment of major institutions related to human rights
A group of armed men in military uniforms raided the home of Nhek Bun Chhay, a former senior member of the FUNCINPEC party who had become a Senator.
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After being arrested by military policemen in Battambang province, a 29-year-old man who had been accused of kidnapping was tortured while being blindfolded and punched in the stomach about 40 times, to force him to answer the policemen’s questions.
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
After being arrested by military policemen in Battambang province, a 29-year-old man who had been accused of kidnapping was tortured while being blindfolded and punched in the stomach about 40 times, to force him to answer the policemen’s questions.
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A 14-year-old boy, accused of an accomplice in a robbery, was allegedly shocked with an electric baton three or four times by Phnom Penh municipal police. Police tortured him until he confessed.
Torture, arrests and illegal detentions
A 14-year-old boy, accused of an accomplice in a robbery, was allegedly shocked with an electric baton three or four times by Phnom Penh municipal police. Police tortured him until he confessed.