On the shrinking space for civil society in Cambodia, in particular the case of the labour rights organisation CENTRAL
B-10-2024-0205
on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Sebastião Bugalho, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Andrey Kovatchev, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Jan Farský, Danuše Nerudová, Vangelis Meimarakis, Davor Ivo Stier, Tomislav Sokol, Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Miriam Lexmann, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Jessica Polfjärd, Mirosława Nykiel, Inese Vaidere
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The resolution condemns Cambodia's tightening control over civic space, fundamental freedoms and the media, and the crackdown on NGOs and unions, including criminal accusations against CENTRAL and the LRSU union.¶¶ It calls for the release of detained activists, dropping charges, ending harassment of civil society and media, improving human rights as a precondition for trade, and increasing EU support for Cambodian civil society.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of detained activists, dropping politically-motivated charges, and ending administrative and legal harassment of civil society organisations and unions.¶
- Calls for Cambodian authorities to end constraining media through legal hurdles, intimidation, shutdowns, and to stop politicised criminal charges, audits, legal threats and disinformation against journalists and activists.¶
- Calls for improvement of the human rights situation in Cambodia as a precondition for further economic cooperation, trade and investment, and for the EU to lift the partial suspension of trade preferences under the 'Everything but Arms' scheme.¶
- Calls for public condemnation of the closing civic and political space through increased diplomatic pressure, urging EU member states to press the Cambodian government to release all political prisoners and uphold democratic values.¶
- Calls on EU member state governments to increase or sustain financial support for Cambodian civil society organisations to strengthen civil society, democracy and human rights.¶
Who is affected
- Cambodian authorities, including the government, Prime Minister and National Assembly, are urged to release activists, drop charges, and end harassment.¶¶¶
- Detained activists, human rights defenders, unionists, journalists and civil society workers in Cambodia would benefit from release and reduced repression.¶
- Cambodian civil society organisations, including CENTRAL and the LRSU union, would receive financial support from EU member states.¶¶