Joint Statement of Civil Society Organizations on the adoption of the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations
Phnom Penh -18 August : We, the undersigned civil society organizations (CSOs) remain deeply concerned about the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO) because the draft law did not take into consideration since 2011 the concerns raised by concerned stakeholders. The process that characterized its adoption and the content of this law undermine democracy and could severely impair the exercise of the rights to freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.
Two consultations were conducted by the Ministry of Interior in 2011 with few inputs and concerns taken into consideration in the 4th version. Since then, the Royal Government of Cambodia refused to make the new draft law public and consult with CSOs. The 5th and final version of the LANGO which was officially released three days before the adoption by the National Assembly, added further controversial provisions. The workshop conducted by the National Assembly with CSOs on 8 July 2015, just few days before the scheduled vote meeting, was a nominal consultation in terms of time and process. Many questions and concerns from CSOs remained unanswered.
The LANGO contains provisions that unlawfully restrict freedom of association, assembly and expression, as well as the right to participate in public life. More than 10 articles of the LANGO need to be carefully and fully reviewed, and several need to be rephrased or reworded. The following articles are of particular concern:
- Article 8 provides arbitrary authority to the Ministry of Interior to deny the registration of a domestic association or NGO, including on the broad ground of deeming that the purpose and objective of an association or NGO ”could adversely affect public security, stability and order, or generate a threat to national security, national unity, or the culture, traditions and good customs of Cambodian national society”;
- Article 9 of the LANGO imposes mandatory registration for all domestic associations and NGOs. Onerous registration requirements are stated in other provisions, including article 6. Organizations that are not registered are not allowed to conduct any activity. The law also criminalizes unregistered groups conducting activities. This is a direct violation of Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR);
- Article 24 requires all domestic NGOs, foreign associations and foreign NGOs to be neutral toward all political parties in the Kingdom of Cambodia, under the threat of de-registration. This constitutes a direct violation to the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed in Article 19 of the ICCPR and freedom of opinion as provided for in
- Article 41 of the Constitution;
- Article 35 contains vague grounds for termination of memorandum of understanding entered with foreign associations and NGOs. This allows subjective interpretation, which may lead to abuses in cases of activities critical towards the authorities.
Having a bad law is worse than having no law. We reaffirm that the LANGO is unacceptable, and by impairing the capacity of civil society to operate in Cambodia will ultimately have a damaging impact on all Cambodian citizens.
Other Latest News
Statement of the International Conference on the 25th Anniversary of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords on Cambodia
We, the participants in the International Conference on the 25th Anniversary of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords on Cambodia (“the Paris Peace Agreements”), recall the importance of the obligations contained in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, which brought an end to decades of conflict and civil war in Cambodia, and laid the framework for a prosperous and peaceful future, based on human rights, participatory democracy, and the rule of law.
The fourth draft includes concerning threats to freedoms of association and the ability of civil society organizations to support Cambodians.
The fourth draft includes concerning threats to freedoms of association and the ability of civil society organizations to support Cambodians. .
Youth NGOs Discuss Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Role of Youths
Phnom Penh (October 13, 2014) – Around 70 youth representatives from different countries in Asia meet and discuss today on the topic of “Look Forward: Post-2015 Development Agenda and Role of Youths” at KSSA/ICF Center, Phnom Penh.
CSO Leaders Meeting“Roadmap and Post LANGO Consultation”
Phnom Penh - 28 August 2015 : Around 60 participants from the leaders and senior management team of civil society organizations, associations, unions and development partners to participate in the consultation....
Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC) placed 3rd Letter to Interior
កាលពីថ្ងៃទី ១៤ ខែ មករា ឆ្នាំ២០១៦ គណៈកម្មាធិការសហប្រតិបត្តិការដើម្បីកម្ពុជា (CCC) បានដាក់លិខិតផ្លូវការទី៣ជូនទៅក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ សូមចូលជួប សម្តេចក្រឡាហោម ស ខេង ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃដើម្បីចូលជួបពិគ្រោះយោបល់និងធ្វើបច្ចុប្បន្នភាពរបស់អង្គការសង្គមស៊ីវិលនិងបញ្ហាប្រឈមក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០១៥ . . .
The breaking Notes of the United Nations about the concerned of the worsening climate for opposition politicians and activists in activists in Cambodia.
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina
CSO Engagement in Localization of Susta -inable Development Goals in Asia
Bangkok 9-11 January 2016. by Mr.Soeung Saroeun, Executive Director of Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC) .
Recently-passed, draft laws discussed among CSOs
Phnom Penh (July 09, 2014) – Around 200 representatives from NGOs, Associations, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), NGO Provincial Networks, and Informal Groups met in a full-day dialogue to discuss and share their concerns, analysis, and advocacy plans on draft laws and passed laws with important implications for civil society at the Korean Society for Service in Asia (KSSA), Phnom Penh.
