LIBRARY

23 September 2026

The Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted four Cambodians for plotting this morning and sentenced them each to seven years in prison allegedly over phone conversations and social media posts.

The court convicted Rath Sothy, Am Vong, Suon Bunlor and Pin Poch on Wednesday under Article 453 of the Criminal Code, handing them each a seven-year prison sentence for three separate alleged offences. Sothy, a 54-year-old second deputy commune chief in Battambang’s Anlong Vil commune, was arrested on 11 January 2026 for allegedly talking about the former prime minister in a private phone conversation. In July, Sothy resigned his commune position and apologised to the government; however, the court proceeded to convict him.

22 September 2026

Chak Saray, 32, head of the Nation Power Party’s youth movement in Siem Reap’s Chi Kraeng district, was arrested on the night of 17 September and detained on charges of plotting and incitement after sharing Facebook posts critical of the government.

Saray was arrested at his home in Siem Reap, before being sent to the Phnom Penh Police Commissariat for questioning. Then, sent to the Phnom Penh Capital Court. He was subsequently charged with plotting and incitement under Articles 453, 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

21 September 2026

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Koh Kong land activist Oeb Toeng in a public defamation case filed by local tycoon Heng Huy.

The high court on Monday upheld a public defamation conviction and a US$25 (100,000 riel) fine against Toeng for a social media post she shared in August 2021 about an ongoing land dispute with Heng Huy. The hearing followed a March 2025 Supreme Court order sending the case back to the appeal court for retrial. In October 2025, the Preah Sihanouk Appeal Court upheld the public defamation conviction after a retrial but reduced the fine from US$50(2,000,000 riel) to around US$25 (100,000 riel).

18 September 2026

As minimum wage negotiation in Cambodia for garment, textile and travel goods sectors are happening, we the undersigned national and international civil society organizations, hereby express our unequivocal support for the trade unions’ joint letter dated September 14, 2026. We endorse its proposal to establish a minimum wage of USD 250.66 per month in 2027 for workers engaged in Cambodia’s garment, textile, footwear, travel goods, and bag sectors.

This proposal signifies an increase of USD 40.66 over the current minimum wage of USD 210. Based on comprehensive research into workers’ living conditions, this adjustment is a reasonable and necessary measure to safeguard purchasing power, meet fundamental household needs, and progressively bridge the gap between the statutory minimum wage and a living wage.

17 September 2026

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court upheld the conviction of Candlelight Party President Teav Vannol on Wednesday, who was found guilty of defamation by a lower court and ordered to pay $1.5 million in damages and $2,500 in fines.

Vannol was sued by the Cambodian government for defamation under Article 305 of the Criminal Code and convicted by the Phnom Penh Capital Court in July 2024. The allegations stem from an interview Vannol gave to the regional publication Nikkei Asia, where he spoke about the democracy and the human rights situation in Cambodia following the ascension of Prime Minister Hun Manet in 2023.

15 September 2026

The head of Srotop Yuvakvey News Outlet, Pen Noun, was arrested by Oddar Meanchey military police at his home on the afternoon of 13 September after publishing a report on illegal logging in the province. He was released one day later after agreeing to stop using the photographs of provincial authorities in his reporting.

Noun posted a video on Facebook on 29 July regarding illegal timber being transported in Oddar Meanchey province. In the video, Noun calls on several provincial government officials to address the alleged criminal activity and shows photographs of several officials, including the provincial governor, the head of the provincial military police and the provincial police chief. Noun had been summonsed several times for questioning by the provincial military police since the video was published, but had requested delays so he could report on illegal logging in other provinces.

7 September 2026

The seven-year prison sentence handed down to 25-year-old Thy Thorn, vice president of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), on 2 September over baseless plotting charges is a disproportionate punishment for Thorn's commitment to peaceful activism. We, the undersigned civil society group, are deeply pained by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's decision, and we call for Thorn to be immediately released and the charges against him to be dropped.

In August 2024, Thorn was arrested in relation to public protests and social media campaigns opposing the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA), a regional cooperation agreement from which later the Cambodian government withdrew itself. Thorn was among the more than 60 people arrested, charged and imprisoned over their expression opposing the agreement. Thorn has had his requests for bail and early release rejected by the Municipal, Appeal and Supreme Court, but he has remained committed to his activism throughout these two years of legal setbacks.

3 September 2026

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the defamation conviction of two Koh Kong land activists, Phav Nheung and Seng Lin, who represent villagers in the Chi Kha Kroam Land community that is locked in a land dispute with a powerful sugarcane company.

The two activists were each fined one million riel (around US$250) and ordered to pay two million riel (around US$500) in compensation under Article 305 of the Criminal Code.

3 September 2026

Across Cambodia, millions of families turned to microloans for a better life. Instead, predatory debt has forced land sales, children dropping out of school, hunger, child labour, migration, and widespread hardship.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, invested over $400 million into Cambodian banks and microfinance institutions. Their stated mission was to reduce poverty. But what actually happened?

2 September 2026

The Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted 25-year-old youth leader Thy Thorn and two others for plotting in relation to protests in 2024.

This morning, Thorn, the vice president of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison for plotting under Article 453 of the Criminal Code. Two other defendants, Seung Kunthea and Mean Chanthon, were convicted on the same charge and also given a seven-year prison sentence. During the trial, the prosecution failed to provide evidence to support the charges.

2 September 2026

Two local-level opposition party leaders from Nation Power Party (NPP) were arrested and jailed on charges of forgery and use of a forged document on 28 August, less than a month after being appointed to their positions.

Sok Hun and Sorn Reth were both appointed to NPP leadership positions in Phnom Penh's Stung Meanchey commune in early August 2026. On 28 August, Hun and Reth were arrested at their houses and later sent to the Phnom Penh Police Commissariat for questioning related to the organisation of election candidate lists dating back to April 2025.

31 August 2026

The Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted In Sokharath, a factory worker in Svay Rieng province, to two years in prison and fined him six million riel (about $1,500) on 26 August over Facebook posts that were critical of government leaders.

Sokharath was arrested at his workplace Bavet on 20 February and sent to the Phnom Penh Capital Court on charges of incitement to discriminate and insult under Articles 496 and 502 of the Criminal Code. Prior to his arrest, Sokharath had received messages from an unknown account threatening him and telling him to delete his Facebook posts.

26 August 2026

Only two of the 18 complainants who filed a case against the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC) over their investments in Cambodian microfinance institutions have opted to engage with the IFC's informal plan to address their concerns. The other 16 complainants, including the wife of one complainant who died during the process, declined to engage further given lasting concerns about the IFC's integrity after it rejected its own accountability mechanism's findings. The 16 complainants who declined to participate further includes all of the Indigenous complainants.

"It is disappointing but not surprising that complainants no longer trust the IFC to handle this case, given it so publicly demonstrated its disregard for independent oversight and accountability," said Naly Pilorge, outreach director of LICADHO. "The IFC's disastrous decision means that most complainants will not receive any form of remedy, a sad conclusion to a wholly shameful affair for the World Bank."

25 August 2026

Land and forest communities in Cambodia’s northeastern provinces celebrated International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2026 between 3 and 25 August. Approximately 1,200 people participated, around 60% of whom were women. Most participants were Kuy, Charai, and Tumpun Indigenous peoples from across six communities in Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Stung Treng, and Ratanakiri provinces. Youth groups, civil society members, and local authorities also joined the celebrations.

The events began with Indigenous ceremonies, followed by public speeches on the background and significance of the day. Participants shared messages on the importance preserving their diverse Indigenous cultures, traditions, religion, languages, and way of life. They also called for the protection of Indigenous identity and land, including Indigenous burial grounds, as well as the protection of forests from illegal logging and land grabbing. The events concluded with Q&A sessions between villagers and local authorities on good governance, forest protection, land rights, and the rights of Indigenous peoples.

20 August 2026

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are gravely concerned to the verdict delivered on 19 August 2026 by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentencing Mr. Chea Vuthy, a citizen journalist and social activist, to 18 months in prison and fine 2.000.000 Riles (approximately 500 USD) in connection with a message sent in a private Messenger group in August 2025.

We call on the relevant authorities to immediately release Chea Vuthy and to drop the charge of “incitement to commit a felony” against him, and urge the relevant authorities to ensure that his case is reviewed in full compliance with Cambodia's national and international human rights obligations.

19 August 2026

This afternoon, the Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted Chea Vuthy, a citizen journalist and defrocked monk, to 18-months imprisonment and imposed a fine of 2 million riel (around $500 USD). He was charged with incitement to disturb social security under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

Chea Vuthy was arrested in April at this home in Wat Por Veal Pagoda in Battambang province by plainclothes provincial police following social media comments he made about the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict and the level of care given to displaced people. A former monk, he was forcibly defrocked on 1 April 2026. Vuthy also worked as a citizen journalist, frequently raising concerns around deforestation, the environment, and human rights violations on social media.

He is being detained in Phnom Penh’s Police Judiciary (PJ) prison. He is among 117 Prisoners of Interest documented by LICADHO.

17 August 2026

A second deputy commune chief previously elected as a Candlelight candidate in Oddar Meanchey province was arrested earlier this month and charged with incitement and insult for a conversation he had on a private phone call.

Oddar Meanchey provincial police arrested Nhean Sarom, a commune councillor from O’Smach, on the night of 5 August. On 7 August, Sarom was charged under Article 496 with “Incitement to Discriminate” and Article 502 for “Insult” related to a conversation Sarom had over a private phone call with a former party candidate. The former candidate was also arrested and charged.

14 August 2026

The number of Cambodians imprisoned due to their speech or activism reached a record high in recent months, according to data collected by LICADHO. While the government has consistently arrested political activists, journalists, union members and social media users over the past five years, the number of people jailed over charges related to the use of their rights reached a new record of 131 people in April, and remains elevated through August.

12 August 2026

This afternoon, the Phnom Penh Appeal Court rejected the bail request of Him Mom, also known as Khem Sreymom, a 45-year-old citizen journalist and human rights defender who was arrested in May 2026. The Phnom Penh Capital Court charged her with incitement to disturb social security and insult of a public official under Articles 494, 495, and 502 of the Criminal Code respectively. The charges stem from Facebook posts she made relating to the Cambodian-Thai border conflict and other social issues.

Him Mom is an active voice for her community and has participated in many activities advocating for human rights, freedom of expression and environmental protections, as well as other civil actions with environmental activists and human rights defenders.

9 August 2026

We are Indigenous Peoples and communities, civil society groups working with Indigenous communities, and those standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities across Cambodia. Today, on International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we are calling on the World Bank Group to reverse its decision to grant itself and its client’s impunity for the harms caused by predatory microfinance loans in Cambodia. Instead, it must provide a meaningful remedy and stop the escalating harms of Cambodia's microfinance crisis in Indigenous communities.

The communities where we live and work are suffering harmful impacts of microloans every day. Children are unable to study. Families are torn apart as people are forced to migrate to look for work. Meals get smaller and less nutritious as people desperately save to repay debts, pressured and harassed by aggressive credit officers.