On the shrinking space for civil society in Cambodia, in particular the case of the labour rights organisation CENTRAL
B-10-2024-0190
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Catarina Vieira, Maria Ohisalo, Ville Niinistö, Benedetta Scuderi, Hannah Neumann, Nicolae Ştefănuță
- Voted on · Adopted 492–5–102 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2024/2952
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
The resolution condemns the shrinking civic space in Cambodia and the reprisals against the labour rights organisation CENTRAL, urging the Cambodian government to drop charges, release detainees, and reform the judiciary.¶¶¶ It calls on the EU to assess tariff preferences, adopt targeted sanctions, increase support for civil society, and make future cooperation conditional on human rights progress.¶¶¶ It also urges companies to conduct human rights due diligence and the ILO to take a public position.¶
Key points
- Urges the Cambodian government to immediately and unconditionally drop all politically motivated charges against CENTRAL and stop the smear campaign.¶
- Calls for the immediate release of all detained activists and for charges to be dropped, and for an end to harassment and lawfare against dissenting voices.¶
- Calls on Cambodia to repeal legislation limiting political freedoms and to work towards comprehensive judicial reform.
- Regrets that partial withdrawal of tariff preferences under the EBA scheme has not improved human rights; asks the Commission to assess changes based on non-cooperation.¶
- Urges the Council to adopt targeted sanctions against officials, including in the judiciary, and their economic interests.¶
- Calls on the Commission and EEAS to increase assistance to civil society and unions and to make future EU trade and investment conditional on human rights compliance.¶
- Asks the EU delegation and member states' embassies to issue condemnations, monitor trials, conduct prison visits, and offer protection, including safe haven and emergency visas.
- Calls on EU companies sourcing from Cambodia to conduct human rights due diligence and use their leverage to promote workers' rights; welcomes the 10 September 2024 statement by global brands.¶
- Calls on the ILO to take a public position on the matter.
Who is affected
- Cambodian government and authorities: must drop charges, release detainees, and reform judiciary.¶¶
- CENTRAL and other civil society organisations in Cambodia: face reprisals and threats.¶¶
- EU institutions (Commission, EEAS, Council) and member states: to take actions on sanctions, aid, and diplomacy.¶¶¶
- EU companies sourcing from Cambodia: must conduct human rights due diligence.¶
- Detained activists: to be released.¶