COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
Law on Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 and other Deadly Infectious Diseases
The law makes evading self-quarantine a crime punishable by 6 months to 3 years in prison with 2 to 10 million reals (~$490-$2460) fines. Other crimes include non-compliance with COVID-19 administrative measures (including testing protocols, gathering caps that are subject to change, and movement restrictions) and obstruction of COVID-19 measures.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 11 Mar 2021
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement
Type: law
Law on National Management in the State of Emergency
The law provides the government with broad new powers during a state of emergency. These include: banning meetings and gatherings; restricting people from leaving their homes; mobilizing military forces; surveilling telecommunications "by any means"; banning or restricting news media that may harm "national security" or create confusion about the state of emergency; and other measures that are "suitable and necessary" to respond to the emergency. "Obstructing" the state's response to the emergency, or noncompliance with the response in a way that creates "public chaos," is punishable by up to 5 years in jail and a fine of up to 5 million riels ($1,200). Organizations found culpable of these offenses may be fined up to 1 billion riels ($247,000).
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 10 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Association, Assembly, Emergency, Surveillance, Press Freedom, Expression, Privacy, Access to Information, Movement, Militarization
Type: law
Commune Lockdown and Movement Restrictions
The Siem Reap Provincial Administration ordered four communes and three villages in Siem Reap city under lockdown for one week (Slakram, Svay Dangkum, Kokchak and Chhreav commune and Ta Vien in Sala Kamroeuk commune, and Prey Thom and Sra Nge in Sra Nge commune). Public activities have been suspended and residents are forbidden from leaving their homes. Gatherings of more than 15 people are prohibited unless otherwise permitted by the relevant authorities. Offenders will face legal action and have their vehicles impounded.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 13 Sep 2021 Extended to 1 Oct 2021, when it was lifted.
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement
Type: order
Curfew and Restrictions on Public Gatherings
The Siem Reap Provincial Administration imposed a curfew from 10PM to 4AM and banned public gatherings.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 13 Jun 2021 Extended through 7 August 2021
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement
Type: order
Harsh Enforcement of COVID "Red Zones"
The authorities classified six communes and parts of four others in Phnom Penh as COVID-19 “red zones." Residents of these areas face restrictive lockdown measures, including a ban on leaving their homes except for specific medical reasons. Authorities have denied access to local and international groups looking to provide assistance to those unable to access food or other necessities due to the lockdown. Police have reportedly enforced the red zones using violence, including caning violators. The Ministry of Information issued a statement ordering journalists to halt reporting from "red zone" areas and the government threatened legal action against journalists for violating this order. The gathering cap was increased from 15 to 50 people through at least 28 October 2021.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 29 Apr 2021 Extended through at least 28 October 2021
Issue(s): Association, Assembly, Press Freedom, Expression, Access to Information, Movement
Type: order
Phnom Penh Lockdown Orders
The lockdown orders prohibits individuals from leaving their residence if not necessary, suspends operations of non-essential workplaces or businesses, and prohibits gatherings. Lockdown orders for Phnom Penh have been repeatedly extended.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 18 Apr 2021 Extended through 7 October 2021
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement
Type: order
"Stop COVID" QR Code System
The government implemented a QR code system to assist with COVID contact tracing that lacks data privacy protections. The QR code system provides the government with user location data and whether the user has violated lockdown orders. Human rights groups raised concerns about the government's failure to explain how data collected by the QR Code system would be stored and used.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 6 Apr 2021
Issue(s): Privacy
Type: practice
Disclosure of Personal Information
The Ministry of Health disclosed the identity and personal information of individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 in the media and published lists of these individuals on its social media site. The published details include name, age, sex, work place, home address, and in several instances, photos.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 4 Dec 2020
Issue(s): Privacy
Type: practice
Arrests and Criminal Penalties for "Fake News"
According to police spokespeople, more than 40 people have been arrested for spreading coronavirus-related "fake news." A number of those arrested are affiliated with the dissolved opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party. On October 5, 2020, a journalist who reported on public comments on COVID-19 made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was sentenced to 18 months in prison for incitement. Another journalist has been sentenced for incitement for criticizing the government’s response to COVID-19 on social media. Kouv Piseth, an online news journalist in Battambang province, was arrested and charged with incitement to commit a felony after criticizing the government’s use of China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines on Facebook.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 16 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Disinformation, Expression
Type: practice