Statements
Statement | On World Day Against Child Labour, LICADHO Urges Authorities To End Root Causes of Child Labour
11 June 2014
LICADHO will mark World Day Against Child Labour 2014 by organizing community events in two locations: Sangkat Dang Tung, Koh Kong; and Stung Haov district, Preah Sihanouk. The aim of these events is to raise awareness of child labour in various sectors and to encourage communities to raise critical questions, and offer suggestions to local authorities on how to end child labour. World Day Against Child Labour officially falls on June 12.
Statement | Phnom Penh Court orders Conviction with Suspended Sentences for 25 Workers and Activists
30 May 2014
We the undersigned civil society groups welcome the decision this morning of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to suspend the sentences of the 23 men and two minors arrested on November 12 2013 and January 2 and 3 2014, thereby releasing the remaining 22 detainees. However, we express our extreme disappointment at the convictions of all 25 and the heavy fines imposed on some of them, following what was to all independent observers a deeply flawed trial process.
Statement | On International Children’s Day, LICADHO calls for Improved Protection of Children in Prison
30 May 2014
LICADHO will mark International Children’s Day 2014 by distributing food and materials to juvenile prisoners, small children living with their incarcerated mothers in prison and pregnant women in eight of Cambodia’s prisons . International Children’s Day officially falls on June 1.
Statement | 2014 Brings a New Wave of Cambodian Land Conflicts
1 April 2014
The number of people affected by state-involved land conflicts in Cambodia since 2000 passed the half-million mark in March, according to data collected by LICADHO.
To mark this somber milestone, LICADHO has published a new video and map which together illustrate the wide distribution of conflicts and the rapid growth of land grabbing as an issue over the past 13 years. The first few months of 2014 have seen a renewed wave of violent land grabbing that has affected 2,246 families across the provinces monitored by LICADHO.
Statement | Public Letter Urging an Immediate Investigation into the Disappearance of Khem Sophath
23 March 2014
We, the undersigned civil society groups, express our deep concern over the disappearance of Khem Sophath, a 16-year-old boy missing since the violent crackdown by Cambodian security forces against striking garment workers on 3 January 2014 near the Canadia Industrial area on Veng Sreng road, Phnom Penh. We call on the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to take all appropriate measures to immediately, thoroughly and impartially investigate Khem Sophath’s disappearance and inform his family of his fate or whereabouts.
Statement | LICADHO Calls for More Rehabilitation Opportunities for Female Prisoners
8 March 2014
On International Women’s Day, LICADHO calls on prison authorities to offer female prisoners, particularly female juvenile prisoners, a broader range of rehabilitation opportunities to build confidence and provide them with appropriate skills to find suitable employment once released.
Statement | Latest Crackdown on Peaceful Dissent Further Perpetuates Impunity and Fuels Tensions
28 January 2014
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a Bangkok-based regional human rights NGO representing 47 member organisations from 16 countries across Asia, registered its strongest condemnation of the Cambodian government’s violent suppression of demonstrators, rights observers and media personnel at a mass rally held in Phnom Penh on 26 January 2014 which left at least 8 people injured.
Statement | Universal Periodic Review: Address Cambodia’s Human Rights Crisis
26 January 2014
Ahead of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) hearing for Cambodia on 28 January 2014, the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) and Amnesty International call on UN member states to address the country’s current human rights crisis.
Statement | Cambodia: Harassment, Arrest, and Detention of Human Rights Defenders Continue
22 January 2014
FIDH and the OMCT, within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) express their concern over the Cambodian authorities’ ongoing harassment, arbitrary arrest, and detention of human rights defenders.
Statement | Cambodian Authorities must Reveal Whereabouts of Detainees Immediately
6 January 2014
Family members, lawyers and independent medical professionals have been denied information about the location of detention of 23 people arrested during recent brutal crackdowns in Phnom Penh. Those arrested include at least three human rights defenders, Vorn Pao, Theng Soveoun and Chan Putisak.
Statement | Peaceful Protesters Expelled from Freedom Park as Military Mobilization Escalates
4 January 2014
This morning state forces put a violent end to CNRP supporters’ long-standing occupation of Freedom Park, also known as Democracy Plaza, an area in central Phnom Penh specifically designated for protest.
This action follows two days of violence, which included the shooting yesterday at the Canadia industrial zone which left at least four civilians dead and dozens wounded.
Statement | Civilians killed and injured by security forces amid civil unrest in Phnom Penh
3 January 2014
LICADHO has confirmed that at least four civilians were shot dead and 21 injured in the worst state violence against civilians to hit Cambodia in fifteen years.
Amid risks of growing civil unrest in Phnom Penh in the aftermath of the shootings, the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) and the Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC) call on security forces and protestors to exercise urgent restraint on both sides to avoid any further bloodshed.
Statement | Military Special Command Unit Deployed to Crackdown on Striking Workers
2 January 2014
The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) and the Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC) are outraged by today’s violent crackdown on striking workers by a military special command unit and the consequent violent arrest of union leaders, garment workers and monks.
Statement | LICADHO Celebrates International Human Rights Day in Cambodian Prisons
8 December 2013
As thousands of people gather across Cambodia to celebrate International Human Rights Day (IHRD), LICADHO will also be celebrating with prisoners in 18 prisons across Cambodia.
LICADHO will organize basic food package distribution to more than 13,000 prisoners in 18 Cambodian prisons,1 including nutrient drinks and snacks. LICADHO will provide a more comprehensive care package to four prisoners that LICADHO considers human rights defenders. LICADHO will also organize entertainment for prisoners, such as traditional dancing and music.
Statement | Thousands of monks and citizens march to celebrate International Human Rights Day in Cambodia
29 November 2013
Over 500 Cambodian monks will march from Dec. 1 to Dec. 10 to celebrate the 65th International Human Rights Day (IHRD). Joining them will be communities, associations, networks, federations, unions and NGOs, as well as residents of communities along the designated routes.
Statement | End Violence Against Women Everywhere
27 November 2013
As the international community celebrates the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender Violence from November 25 to December 10th, we, the undersigned civil society groups, call on the government to end violence against women perpetrated by its agents.
Statement | On the International Day to End Impunity, LICADHO Publishes Data on 10 Fatal Shootings by the Cambodian Police and Military
23 November 2013
On November 12, 2013 a street vendor, Eng Sokhum, was killed and nine others wounded by police gunfire during a garment workers’ strike in Phnom Penh. On September 15, 2013 Mao Sok Chan was shot in the head and killed when trying to make his way home through a violent clash at a roadblock at the end of a day of post-election protest. As yet, neither incident has been properly investigated and no one has been held responsible. Investigations by LICADHO show that these recent tragedies were not exceptional and were in fact illustrative of a pervasive tendency to the unlawful use of excessive force, fueled by failure to investigate or punish.
Statement | Vigil to end impunity against journalists in Cambodia
21 November 2013
On November 23rd, 2013, the international community will mark the Third International Day to End Impunity. In Cambodia, impunity continues to be one of the greatest obstacles to strengthening the rule of law and allowing citizens of the country to receive Justice. We are inviting reporters, media workers and victims who have been denied justice as a result of impunity to express their solidarity by joining together where journalist Khim Sambo was killed in 2008 and call the government to provide Justice.
Statement | One Dead, Seven Injured Amid Violent Clashes in SL Garment Workers Strike
12 November 2013
Earlier this morning, a violent clash between striking garment workers and armed forces, followed by two additional clashes between the growing number of armed forces and a crowd of citizens, resulted in the death of one bystander and at least nine injured in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district.
Statement | Childhood behind bars - Growing up in a Cambodian prison
15 October 2013
In Cambodia there are currently 38 young children living in prison with their mothers in the prisons monitored by LICADHO. Whilst these children are not prisoners, they are too often treated as such.
LICADHO’s latest report “Childhood behind bars: Growing up in a Cambodian prison – Sokun’s story” details the experiences of one such child, ‘Sokun’ (not his real name), who lived with his incarcerated mother in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Center 2 (CC2) prison until he was six years and ten months old.
