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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LANGO Timeline

  • NGO Law is finally adopted

    NGO Law is finally adopted

    Government Action

    On 12 August 2015, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni signed and promulgated the Law on Association and Non-Governmental Organization.

    Freshnews | VOD | CAMD | PPP | Freshnews | VOD | RFA | CAMD

  • Civil Society Organizations urge His Majesty the King not to sign the LANGO

    Civil Society Organizations urge His Majesty the King not to sign the LANGO

    Advocacy(Letter)

    We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are writing to urge your Majesty not to sign the proposed Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (“LANGO”), and to call for your urgent intervention as the official guarantor of the constitutional rights and freedoms of all Cambodians, and of the international human rights treaties to which Cambodia is a party.

    CCHR | CCHR

  • 6 Prisoner-wearing-Uniform Youth Arrested

    6 Prisoner-wearing-Uniform Youth Arrested

    Advocacy(Protest)

    6 youth were arrested at NA after they wore a prisoner uniform to protest for dropping LANGO.

    RFA | RFI | VOD | PPP | CAMD | KHT | RFA | RFI | VOD | PPP | CAMD | KHT

  • People Protest For Dropping LANGO at Senate

    People Protest For Dropping LANGO at Senate

    Advocacy(Protest)

    More than 400 Monks/people protested in front of Senate to demand dropping the contentious LANGO.

    VOD | VOD

  • Press briefing notes on resignation of Deputy High Commissioner and Cambodia Spokespersons for OHCHR

    Press briefing notes on resignation of Deputy High Commissioner and Cambodia Spokespersons for OHCHR

    Advocacy(Briefing Note)

    Laws like this, which allow the authorities to de-register associations that they consider not to be “politically neutral” are very detrimental.

    OHCHR | Reliefweb | PPP | AKP | OHCHR | Reliefweb | PPP | AKP

  • Senators Unanimously Passes LANGO

    Senators Unanimously Passes LANGO

    Government Action

    44 over 44 senators of CPP passed LANGO unanimously even there were a lot of criticize.

    RFA | RFI | VOD | VOA | RFA | RFI | VOD | VOA

  • Cambodia: King should reject Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations

    Cambodia: King should reject Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations

    Advocacy(Letter)

    Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty, has written to His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodia’s monarch, calling on him to reject the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO).

    Amnesty International | Amnesty International

  • CSOs Demands Amendments on LANGO Before Reaching Senate

    CSOs Demands Amendments on LANGO Before Reaching Senate

    Advocacy(Joint Statement)

    A group of main CSOs released a joint statement to request the Senate to consider and amend the draft before it comes to Senate meeting.

    CCHR | ICJ

  • Protests over NGO law across country

    Protests over NGO law across country

    Advocacy(Protest)

    Hundreds of people across the country, on 22 July, protested against the draft NGO law, as it was announced that the controversial legislation will go before the Senate on Friday.

    PPP | CAMD | PPP | CAMD

  • CCHR Requests Senate to Drop LANGO

    CCHR Requests Senate to Drop LANGO

    Advocacy(Letter)

    In an open letter sent to Say Chhum, CCHR urges the Senate to reject the consultation on LANGO or Drop the LANGO.

    CCHR | VOD | ANADOLU Agency | CCHR | VOD | ANADOLU Agency

  • Youth in Prisoner Uniform Protests Against LANGO

    Youth in Prisoner Uniform Protests Against LANGO

    Advocacy(Protest)

    Youths from various groups wore in prisoner uniform to show their dissatisfaction on LANGO.

    VOD | VOD

  • Community activists shared LANGO leaflet and were arrested

    Community activists shared LANGO leaflet and were arrested

    Advocacy(Protest)

    5 activists from communities were arrested because of sharing leaflets to public about protesting LANGO.

    VOD | RFA | VOD | RFA

  • CSOs' joint Statement on LANGO

    CSOs' joint Statement on LANGO

    Advocacy(Joint Statement)

    Joint Statement of Civil Society Organizations on the adoption of the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations by the National Assembly

    CCHR | NGOs List | CCHR | NGOs List

  • 11 Sam Rainsy Party senators  boycott the vote on LANGO

    11 Sam Rainsy Party senators boycott the vote on LANGO

    Advocacy(Protest)

    11 Sam Rainsy Party senators announced on 15 July 2015 they will take a page from the CNRP playbook and also boycott the upcoming vote on the LANGO bill.

    PPP | VAYO | PPP | VAYO

  • UN Human Rights expert Maina Kiai called for Cambodian Senate to Reject LANGO

    UN Human Rights expert Maina Kiai called for Cambodian Senate to Reject LANGO

    Advocacy(Statement)

    On 15 July, United Nations Human Rights expert, Maina Kiai, called on the Cambodian Senate to reject the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO) that "unequivocally threatens the very existence of a free and independent civil society in Cambodia."

    OHCHR | VOD | RFA | VOA | CAMD | OHCHR | VOD | RFA | VOA | CAMD

  • Statement of EU Spokesperson on LANGO

    Statement of EU Spokesperson on LANGO

    Advocacy(Statement)

    The EU spokesperson stated concerns of LANGO after being passed by the NA fearing LANGO could severely affect NGOs’ activities.

    EU | VOA | EU | VOA

  • The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) released a statement on the adoption of LANGO

    The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) released a statement on the adoption of LANGO

    Advocacy(Statement)

    The adoption of the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO) is a severe attack on Cambodia’s independent civil society, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, said on 14 July 2015.

    FIDH | FIDH

  • International Commission of Jurists released a press release to condemn on NA adopting LANGO

    International Commission of Jurists released a press release to condemn on NA adopting LANGO

    Advocacy(Press Release)

    On 13 July, the ICJ condemned the Cambodian Peoples’ Party (CPP) approval 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.

    ICJ | ICJ

  • CSOs and NGOs Demonstrated To demand NA to drop LANGO

    CSOs and NGOs Demonstrated To demand NA to drop LANGO

    Advocacy(Protest)

    The protestors coming from communities, CSOs, NGOs, and Opposition lawmakers were blocked from entering the NA to protest for dropping LANGO by layers of.

    VOD | RFA | VOA | CAMD | PPP | KHT | RFI | VOD | RFA | VOA | CAMD | PPP | KHT | RFI

  • CPP Unanimously Adopted LANGO

    CPP Unanimously Adopted LANGO

    Government Action

    On 13 July, the NA filled by CPP MP members, unanimously passed LANGO without any members of CNRP present.

    RFA | CAMD | PPP | KHT | RFA | CAMD | PPP | KHT