Every year, communities all over the world come together to celebrate World Habitat Day and the right to shelter. For many Cambodians, the right to adequate housing remains unfulfilled. Land conflicts with large corporations rob families of their farmland. Lack of essential infrastructure such as roads, schools and health centres keep communities from accessing the basic services they need to live secure and dignified lives. Year after year, these communities have joined together in peaceful demonstrations to call on authorities to ensure that these fundamental rights to life and livelihood are respected.

But after years of threats, harassment and arrests, many local communities locked in land disputes are finding it harder to gather in public and advocate for their rights. This year, more than a dozen communities launched social media campaigns calling on the government to help resolve their land conflicts and uphold the right to a home.