Cambodia: Calls for review of Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations
| Publisher | Article 19 |
| Publication Date | 7 July 2015 |
| Cite as | Article 19, Cambodia: Calls for review of Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations, 7 July 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/559d206e4.html [accessed 1 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
ARTICLE 19, in a joint letter addressed to the Cambodian Prime Minister, calls on the government of Cambodia to immediately withdraw the draft Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO) submitted before the National Assembly and apparently scheduled for a vote on 10 July 2015.
The government has failed to engage in serious and meaningful consultations with affected groups or the wider public. At the National Assembly, the draft law has been subject only to a pro-forma review by assembly commissions controlled by the governing Cambodian People's Party (CPP), continuing to ignore civil society concerns about the unnecessary restrictions it imposes and its potential for arbitrary implementation against critical groups and individuals. A law affecting fundamental rights should not be given so cursory consideration.
This legislation, if adopted, would seriously damage the ability of many domestic and international associations and NGOs, as well as community-based advocacy movements, to work effectively in Cambodia. The law would give the Interior, Foreign Affairs and other ministries sweeping, arbitrary powers to shut down existing domestic and foreign membership groups and staffed organizations, unchecked through judicial review, and to prohibit the creation of new ones, while criminalizing activities by non-registered groups.
Furthermore, the restrictions on the right to association contained in LANGO go beyond the permissible limitations allowed by international human rights law and are unnecessary for any legitimate purpose. Legislation already in force in Cambodia is fully sufficient to appropriately regulate the activities of NGOs and other associations and to allow prosecution where criminal acts have been committed.
Recent events and the manner in which the LANGO is now being rushed through the National Assembly on an expedited schedule have heightened our concern that the almost certain consequence will be to impose new draconian and impermissibly excessive restrictions on the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association, expression and opinion - rights safeguarded under the Constitution of Cambodia and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Cambodia is a party.
Signatories:
ActionAid
Amnesty International
ARTICLE 19
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asian Human Rights Commission
Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
Chab Dai
Civil Rights Defenders
Dan Church Aid / Christian Aid
Danmission
Diakonia
Forum Syd
Forum on Democracy and Election (ForDE)
Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Culture Rights
Global Witness
Heinrich Böll Stiftung
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Now
IFEX
International Accountability Project
International Commission of Jurists
International Service for Human Rights
Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS)
Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada
LICADHO Canada
Knights for Peace
OT Watch
People in Need
People's Empower Foundation
Protection International
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association
Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Welthungerhilfe / German Agro Action
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
World Hope International
World Renew
Yayasan LINTAS NUSA Batam-Indonesia
