In Cambodia there is a very long list of human rights violations that include: unlawful killings, torture, cruelty, degrading and inhumane treatment or punishment by the government, political prisoners, interference with the private lives of citizens, issues with independence of the judiciary, restrictions on freedom of speech and media including violence against journalists, environmental degradation affecting indigenous populations, interference with peaceful assemblies, restrictions on civil society organizations, human trafficking, gender-based violence, restrictions on worker rights, and child labor.


I will go into more detail about a few of these human rights violations.
There is a lot of police violence against workers. Police have arrested and assaulted workers that were striking as union members who were calling for higher wages and reinstatement of dismissed workers from major layoffs. They have also arrested 28 members of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld. Many of them were charged with “incitement to commit a felony”. Other LRSU members have been arrested for striking at a COVID-19 site.

The constitution provides the right for an independent judiciary, but the government has not respected judicial independence and has exerted extensive political control over the courts. This meant that court decisions were often totems subject to political influence. There has also been corruption of many judges, prosecutors, and court officials.

The freedom of expression is a right provided in the constitution unless it adversely affects public security. This includes members of press and other media. However, the government has severely restricted freedom of expression and used their power for censorship. The government has arrested people on disinformation and incitement charges. And harassment and threats of violence against journalists are common.

If you wish to learn more, you can visit the websites below: 

https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cambodia/#:~:text=to%20do%20so.-,Transnational%20Repression,force%20their%20return%20to%20Cambodia.


https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asia-and-the-pacific/south-east-asia-and-the-pacific/cambodia/report-cambodia/