The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has consecutively won the national election and governed
Cambodia for almost four decades, dominating political life, government institutions, and the
judiciary, resulting in a highly restricted democratic environment. Even though the constitution
declares Cambodia to be a democratic country led and managed by multiple parties, in practice,
only one party currently governs the nation.
The transition of prime ministerial power to the former prime minister’s son in 2023 has not
reversed the trend of authoritarian governance. Elections are tightly controlled, with opposition
parties facing legal and administrative barriers, civil society actors targeted, and independent
media largely suppressed.
Civil society in Cambodia continues to face a gradually shrinking civic space under the relevant
laws covering the operation of NGOs. Freedoms of expression, assembly, and association were
further curtailed in 2024, with peaceful public gatherings virtually impossible due to permit
requirements and government harassment. Activists, opposition figures, and human rights
defenders remain under surveillance, intimidation, and risk of detention, while government
narratives portray CSOs as foreign agents threatening national security. This environment has
generated widespread fear, prompted self-censorship, and forced civil society activities primarily
into private spaces.
Enabling principle scores
Enabling principles scores
Funding challenges have compounded these restrictions. The withdrawal of major donors like
USAID and SIDA has significantly reduced resources for human rights and democracy-promoting
CSOs. Recently, the United States Department of State announced that its embassies will no
longer be permitted to fund initiatives aimed at promoting democracy and human rights. This
decision risks silencing the voices of victims, such as communities affected by land grabbing,
whose stories are often conveyed through civil society organisations to international actors,
including donors, development partners, and foreign governments. When these voices are not
heard, injustices are more likely to persist because the lack of visibility reduces accountability and
weakens pressure for reform in Cambodian society. Many organisations are scaling back or
relying on voluntary efforts while appealing for new funding from other democratic international
partners. NGOs focused on non-sensitive development areas such as agriculture, education, and
gender continue some operations without government interference. Despite these, civil society
remains an important actor in supporting community-level legal aid, human rights awareness,
social service delivery, and public dialogue. However, they must steer a complex and repressive
political culture that co-opts, controls, and stifles independent voices. The government retains
strong regulatory control through laws like the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental
Organisations (LANGO) and surveillance provisions, undermining civil society’s ability to
advocate freely.
