Cambodia: Fundamental Freedoms Monitoring Project
LAST UPDATED: September 2024
The Fundamental Freedoms Monitoring Project, which began in 2016, examines and evaluates the extent to which the freedoms of association, expression, and assembly are exercised in Cambodia. The information used was systematically compiled from a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including public polling, media monitoring, and surveys of civil society organizations (CSOs) and trade unions (TUs).
For key trends identified in the FFMP over the last nine years, please see ICNL’s report.
The FFMP’s Eighth Annual Report monitored fundamental freedoms in Cambodia from January through December 2023. Key findings include:
- A total of 633 restrictions and violations of fundamental freedoms occurred across Cambodia in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022).
- 377 included at least one violation of fundamental freedoms, and only 1 incident constituted a protection of fundamental freedoms.
- Incidents involving a restriction or violation of fundamental freedoms were recorded in every province of Cambodia.
- Understanding of fundamental freedoms remains low – 8% report fully understanding freedom of assembly and for freedom of expression (a decrease from 2022), and only 5% for freedom of association.
- 63% of the public reported always, regular, or sometimes self-censoring.
- 59% of individuals said they felt free or somewhat free to peacefully assemble.
- Only 40% of individuals polled reporting feeling free to participate in political life (4% decline from 2022), a particularly concerning data point for a national election year.
The FFMP is a joint initiative of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), and the American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS), with technical assistance provided by the International Center for Not-For-Profit Law (ICNL).