Journalists Continue to Face Criminalization and Legal Harassment for Public-Interest Reporting
The lack of protection for journalists’ safety and independent reporting has undermined the public’s access to reliable information. As documented by CamboJA, authorities are resorting to criminal charges, including incitement charges, against journalists covering sensitive issues instead of utilizing the civil remedies outlined in the Cambodian Press Law. This approach runs counter to international standards that protect freedom of expression. Such restrictions on journalistic work hinder public access to information and undermine meaningful participation in public discourse.
Although the Ministry of Information claims that nearly 81% of respondents believe Cambodia enjoys media freedom, this assessment stands in stark contrast to findings reported by civil society, independent media outlets, and international observers.
From January to March 2026, CamboJA documented 11 instances of human rights violations targeting journalists. The cases documented this quarter represent a 21% decline compared to the previous quarter (October-December 2025), during which 14 violations were documented. Even though the overall number declined compared to the previous quarter, the legal intimidation and legal action against journalists remain a concern.
The findings documented in this report show that legal intimidation remains a persistent threat to media freedom in Cambodia. Journalists continue to face criminal charges, detention, pressure to self-censor, and other forms of retaliation linked to their professional work.
Types and frequency of human rights violations and acts recorded
| Type of human rights violation | Acts included | Type of act | Number of violations |
| Right to psychological integrity | Acts connected to journalistic activity intended to induce fear or emotional distress | Intimidation | 1 |
| Right to due process and liberty | Arbitrary legal acts against liberty intended to discourage, restrict or control journalistic expression. | Pre-trial detention | 2 |
| Detention | 4 | ||
| Summons/interrogation | 4 |
Findings in this quarter show that those journalists working for online media outlets are most often exposed to violations, as in the previous quarter. These figures coincide with a broader trend of increasing online surveillance and escalating risks associated with utilizing digital platforms for independent reporting.
Five of the 11 recorded violations were connected to reporting on online scams. In these cases, journalists were briefly detained by police, charged, and placed in pre-trial detention. Other topics linked to violations include environmental issues, land disputes, and human rights.
Of the 11 recorded violations, eight involved state actors as perpetrators. These actors operated at both the local and provincial levels. – Three cases involved private individuals, with some incidents involving multiple perpetrators. Three of the journalists affected had previously experienced violations in connection with their journalistic work, indicating a pattern of repeated targeting.
Download the full report: English
