Cambodia

Cambodia

Right	Section	Contents
Freedom of Association	History	Article 10 of the 1947 Constitution states: "All Cambodians have a right to associate freely, unless their association endangers or tends to endanger the liberties guaranteed by the present Constitution. They are also granted liberty of meeting." According to Article 42 of the 1993 Constitution, "Khmer Citizens shall have the right to establish associations and political parties. These rights shall be determined by law. Khmer citizens may take part in mass organizations for mutual benefit to protect national achievement and social order." References: 1947 Cambodia Constitution: Advocatetanmoy Law Library. https://advocatetanmoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cambodia-constitution-1947.pdf 1993 Cambodia Constitution as revised up to 1999: https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/9539
Freedom of Expression	History	According to Article 9 of the 1947 Constitution: "Every Cambodian is free to speak, write, print, and publish. He may, either by way of the press or any other means express, spread, defend every opinion so long as he makes no unauthorized use of that right or does not tend to disturb the public order." In the Kingdom of Cambodia freedom of expression is currently protected by the 41st article of the 1993 constitution. The nation is a kingdom the however, king reigns but does not govern and the citizens are afforded a plethora of protected rights. References: 1947 Cambodia Constitution: Advocatetanmoy Law Library. https://advocatetanmoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cambodia-constitution-1947.pdf 1993 Cambodia Constitution as revised up to 1999: https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/9539
Freedom of Religion	History	The 1947 Constitution of Cambodia declares Buddhism as the religion of the state. However, It asserts under Article 8 that, “Liberty of conscience is absolute. So is that of worshiping…” but limits this liberty of worship by articulating that it “suffers no other restrictions than those made necessary by the maintenance of Public order.” Articles 31 and 43 of the 1993 Constitution grant religious equality under the law and religious freedom of worship, respectively. Article 43 of the 1993 Constitution declares Buddhism the national religion and Article 68 promotes Buddhist institutions. References: 1947 Cambodia Constitution: Advocatetanmoy Law Library. https://advocatetanmoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cambodia-constitution-1947.pdf 1993 Cambodia Constitution as revised up to 1999: https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/9539
Freedom of the Press	History	Cambodia originally protected freedom of the press under Section 2, Article 9 of its 1947 Constitution: “Every Cambodian is free to speak, write, print and publish. He may, either by way of the press or any other means express, spread, defend every opinion so long as he makes no unauthorized use of that right or does not tend to disturb the public order.” According to Chapter III, Article 41 of the 1993 Cambodian Constitution: "Khmer citizens shall have freedom of expression, press, publication and assembly. No one shall exercise this right to infringe upon the rights of others, to affect the good traditions of the society, to violate public law and order and national security. The regime of the media shall be determined by law." References: 1947 Cambodia Constitution: Advocatetanmoy Law Library. https://advocatetanmoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cambodia-constitution-1947.pdf 1993 Cambodia Constitution as revised up to 1999: https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/9539
Privacy Rights	History	The 1947 Constitution offered privacy rights with reference to the home and to correspondence. Article 11 of that document held that "The domicile is inviolable. No one may get in except in the cases specified by the Law and according to the forms it prescribes." Article 12 concerned correspondence: "The secrecy of letters is inviolable, temporary derogations being explicitly provided for by the Law when the higher interest of the Nation makes it necessary." The 1993 constitution contains privacy rights in Article 40: “The rights to privacy of residence, and to the confidentiality of correspondence by mail, telegram, fax, telex and telephone, shall be guaranteed” (Office of the Council of the Ministers of Cambodia, “Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia”). References: 1947 Cambodia Constitution: Advocatetanmoy Law Library. https://advocatetanmoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cambodia-constitution-1947.pdf 1993 Cambodia Constitution as revised up to 1999: https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/9539
Voting Rights and Suffrage	History	Article 48 of the 1947 Cambodia Constitution stated: "Any Cambodian citizen, who is fully 20 years old is an elector, provided that he is not deprived of his civil rights and that he fulfills the conditions determined by the Electoral Law. Soldiers and officers on the active list can neither be electors nor eligible. It is the same for the monks on account of the Buddhist dogmas." Khmer citizens 18 years or older are granted the right to vote through universal suffrage under Article 34 of the 1993 Constitution. References: 1947 Cambodia Constitution: Advocatetanmoy Law Library. https://advocatetanmoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cambodia-constitution-1947.pdf 1993 Cambodia Constitution as revised up to 1999: https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/9539