Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia
Encyclopedia
The Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia
(AFEC) is an alliance of Cambodian non-governmental organizations working to promote in Cambodia
:
The AFEC logo is a yellow ribbon in an "f" shape, signifying freedom. AFEC is coordinated by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights
(CCHR) and led by the CCHR's President, Ou Virak
.
, in response to the imprisonment of the then President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights
(CCHR) Kem Sokha
and others who were accused of defaming the Cambodian government.
freedom of expression throughout Cambodia
. The launch of this campaign echoed throughout the world and large numbers of Cambodians wore yellow ribbons to public events sending a clear message to the government that Cambodian civil society did not accept repression against its leading activists. Assisted by international pressure, AFEC succeeded in securing the release of the human rights activists.
In February 2006, AFEC organized a march for freedom of expression that resulted in Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
promising to decriminalize defamation. Although prison terms are no longer given in defamation cases, defamation is still a criminal offense. The government can also use other means, such as criminal disinformation
and incitement
laws, to silence critics of corruption, land grabbing and illegal evictions.
From 25 February to 15 March 2007, AFEC organized a 314-kilometre march from Phnom Penh
to Angkor Wat
for freedom of expression, non-violence and political tolerance in Cambodia
ahead of commune council elections.
On 13 April 2009, a coalition of non-governmental organizations - coordinated by AFEC and assisted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) - made a joint submission on freedom of expression and assembly in Cambodia
to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva
, for inclusion in its summary of stakeholder information for the purposes of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Cambodia's Human Rights record.
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
(AFEC) is an alliance of Cambodian non-governmental organizations working to promote in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
:
- freedom of expression;
- freedom of informationFreedom of informationFreedom of information refers to the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the Internet and information technology . Freedom of information may also concern censorship in an information technology context, i.e...
; and - freedom of assemblyFreedom of assemblyFreedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests...
.
The AFEC logo is a yellow ribbon in an "f" shape, signifying freedom. AFEC is coordinated by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights
Cambodian Center for Human Rights
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights is a non-partisan, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia. It focuses primarily on civil and political rights and on a variety of interlinked human rights issues...
(CCHR) and led by the CCHR's President, Ou Virak
Ou Virak
Ou Virak is a well known Cambodian human rights activist and intellectual, the President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, founder of the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia , and winner of the Reebok Human Rights Award for his civil society campaign for freedom of expression...
.
Formation
AFEC was formed in December 2005 by Ou VirakOu Virak
Ou Virak is a well known Cambodian human rights activist and intellectual, the President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, founder of the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia , and winner of the Reebok Human Rights Award for his civil society campaign for freedom of expression...
, in response to the imprisonment of the then President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights
Cambodian Center for Human Rights
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights is a non-partisan, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia. It focuses primarily on civil and political rights and on a variety of interlinked human rights issues...
(CCHR) Kem Sokha
Kem Sokha
Kem Sokha is the President of the Human Rights Party in Cambodia. He was born on 27 June 1953 in Takéo, Cambodia.-Politics:National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2008–Present• LAND RIGHTS. Active opponent of illegal evictions....
and others who were accused of defaming the Cambodian government.
Achievements
In December 2005, in response to the imprisonment of the human rights activists, AFEC distributed 100,000 yellow ribbons as a symbol of the need to supportfreedom of expression throughout Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. The launch of this campaign echoed throughout the world and large numbers of Cambodians wore yellow ribbons to public events sending a clear message to the government that Cambodian civil society did not accept repression against its leading activists. Assisted by international pressure, AFEC succeeded in securing the release of the human rights activists.
In February 2006, AFEC organized a march for freedom of expression that resulted in Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
Hun Sen
Hun Sen is the current Prime Minister of Cambodia.He has been the sole leader of the Cambodian People's Party , which has governed Cambodia since the Vietnamese-backed overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in 1979...
promising to decriminalize defamation. Although prison terms are no longer given in defamation cases, defamation is still a criminal offense. The government can also use other means, such as criminal disinformation
Disinformation
Disinformation is intentionally false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately. For this reason, it is synonymous with and sometimes called black propaganda. It is an act of deception and false statements to convince someone of untruth...
and incitement
Incitement
In English criminal law, incitement was an anticipatory common law offence and was the act of persuading, encouraging, instigating, pressuring, or threatening so as to cause another to commit a crime....
laws, to silence critics of corruption, land grabbing and illegal evictions.
From 25 February to 15 March 2007, AFEC organized a 314-kilometre march from Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
to Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu,...
for freedom of expression, non-violence and political tolerance in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
ahead of commune council elections.
On 13 April 2009, a coalition of non-governmental organizations - coordinated by AFEC and assisted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) - made a joint submission on freedom of expression and assembly in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, for inclusion in its summary of stakeholder information for the purposes of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Cambodia's Human Rights record.
See also
- Cambodian Center for Human RightsCambodian Center for Human RightsThe Cambodian Center for Human Rights is a non-partisan, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia. It focuses primarily on civil and political rights and on a variety of interlinked human rights issues...
- Ou VirakOu VirakOu Virak is a well known Cambodian human rights activist and intellectual, the President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, founder of the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia , and winner of the Reebok Human Rights Award for his civil society campaign for freedom of expression...
- Kem SokhaKem SokhaKem Sokha is the President of the Human Rights Party in Cambodia. He was born on 27 June 1953 in Takéo, Cambodia.-Politics:National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2008–Present• LAND RIGHTS. Active opponent of illegal evictions....
- CambodiaCambodiaCambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
- Human rights in CambodiaHuman rights in CambodiaThe human rights situation in Cambodia is facing growing criticisms both within the country and an increasingly alarmed international community. After a series of flagrant violation against basic human rights a feeling of incertitude regarding the direction the country is emerging, sometimes...
- Khmer RougeKhmer RougeThe Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
- Politics of CambodiaPolitics of CambodiaThe Politics of Cambodia takes place in a framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government and a Monarch is head of state. The kingdom formally takes place according to the nation's constitution in a framework of a parliamentary, representative...