Acid attack
1 December 2019
To mark International Human Rights Day on December 10 2019, LICADHO is publishing summaries of major events and human rights abuses spanning the last decade. Each day will feature a new year, starting on December 1 with a summary of events in 2010 and culminating on December 10 with a look back at 2019.
29 January 2010
Acid attacks have become an increasingly common form of violence in Cambodia in recent years. This particularly vicious method of attack is generally directed against women, often by their own husbands, or the wives of their lovers, with the most common motive being jealousy or revenge for perceived infidelities. There are, however, countless other motives for such attacks, with male and female perpetrators and victims. The attacks are almost always premeditated, as the perpetrators must take the time to acquire caustic acids. Unfortunately, these chemicals are typically inexpensive and readily available on the open market. Acid is very popular weapon given that it almost invisible to the police and the public.
2 September 2009
The Cambodian League for Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) jointly condemn the decision by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to acquit former National Military Police Deputy Chief of Staff General Chea Ratha and her accomplices accused of an acid attack on Ya Soknim. The August 31 verdict, issued by judges Sin Visal, Din Sivuthy and Sem Sakola came after several inexplicable delays in the case over the past months.
Human rights activists believe the attack on Ya Soknim, that left her severely mutilated, was an act of revenge against her and her niece, the TV celebrity In Solyda, who has been estranged from Chea Ratha since early 2008.
31 July 2007
"Before, a husband would beat his wife and children, now he just insults them..." chilling yet sobering words from a woman surveyed by LICADHO's Women's Rights Office (WRO) following the end of its pilot project in Kandal Province, which aimed to educate the community on violence against women issues.
16 December 2004
To commemorate the 56th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, NGOs, student groups, monks and a few of Cambodia’s UN agencies gathered on December 10 to read the Declaration and march to the palace where they were received by King Norodom Sihamoni.
26 June 2004
Stronger action is necessary to prevent and punish the rampant use of torture in Cambodia, according to LICADHO. “Countless Cambodian men, women and children have their lives destroyed by acts of torture,” said LICADHO president Kek Galabru.
22 December 2003
LICADHO released a report documenting the increase of attacks in which the perpetrator pours acid on the victim, causing serious disfigurement. LICADHO called for stronger action to punish and prevent such acid attacks.
1 December 2003
Throwing acid is one of the worst crimes that a person can commit. The perpetrator usually does not want to kill the victim, but wants to do something worse than murder - make the victim suffer forever. Acid melts human flesh and even bones, causing excruciating pain and terror, and leaves the victims mutilated and scarred for the rest of their lives. Some suffer permanent disabilities such as blindness.
In this report LICADHO explores the increase in the use of acid in attacks and documents the reasons for its use.
1 January 2003
The Project Against Torture assists victims of torture with a comprehensive range of services for their mental and physical rehabilitation. It is the only program of its kind in Cambodia.