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Civil society space in Cambodia: Case of CENTRAL

COMCMT1R-EP1R-C2R-EPCNCADO

Updated 21mo ago

The European Parliament condemns the shrinking space for civil society in Cambodia, citing the case of the labour rights organisation CENTRAL.

This resolution affects Cambodian authorities, civil society organisations like CENTRAL, Equitable Cambodia, and Mother Nature Cambodia, as well as companies sourcing from Cambodia.

It calls for the release of political prisoners, an end to harassment of civil society, and amendments to Cambodian laws to align with international standards.

The EU may reassess Cambodia's tariff preferences and consider targeted sanctions against those responsible for repression.

Documents

The shrinking space for civil society in Cambodia, in particular the case of the labour rights organisation CENTRAL

position · EN · 2026-04-01

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Analysis

AI-generated·2 Apr 2026·Source document·Unverified

The European Parliament condemns the shrinking of civic space in Cambodia and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners, activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and other civil society actors held on politically motivated charges.

What changes

The resolution condemns the shrinking civic space in Cambodia and calls for the release of political prisoners and cessation of harassment targeting civil society actors.
The Cambodian authorities are called upon to dismiss politically motivated charges against CENTRAL and its members, halt audits and smear campaigns, and respect the role of civil society organisations.
The Cambodian authorities are urged to amend the Trade Union Law and the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations (LANGO) to align with international standards.
EU companies sourcing from Cambodia are urged to conduct human rights due diligence and leverage their influence to promote workers' rights.
The Commission and Member States are to assess changes to tariff preferences under the Everything but Arms scheme based on Cambodia's human rights record.
The EU and Member States are urged to explore multilateral instruments on business and human rights.
The EU and international community are called to take action, including targeted sanctions, against those responsible for political repression in Cambodia.
Member States and the EEAS are to increase support for Cambodian civil society and provide protection for human rights defenders.

Expected impact

The Cambodian authorities are urged to amend the Trade Union Law and the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations (LANGO) to ensure alignment with international human rights and labour standards.
The European Commission and Member States are to assess changes to tariff preferences under the Everything but Arms scheme based on Cambodia's cooperation on human rights violations.
Improving human rights and safeguarding civil society freedoms are stated as preconditions for economic cooperation, trade, and investment with Cambodia.

Limitations

The document is a resolution from the European Parliament and does not contain specific legislative text that would be subject to amendment or repeal in the same way as a directive or regulation. Therefore, 'changesSummary' focuses on the calls to action and urged amendments.
The document does not provide specific details on the 'Everything but Arms' scheme beyond its potential use as leverage for human rights improvements.
The document does not specify the exact nature or scope of the 'multilateral instruments on business and human rights' to be explored.
The document does not detail the criteria or process for implementing 'targeted sanctions'.

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