Cambodia: Holding a Media Summit Without Media Freedom
Holding an Asian media meeting in Cambodia makes a mockery of freedom of expression and press freedom, Human Rights Watch said today. Cambodia will host the 16th Asia Media Summit from June 10-14, 2019 in Siem Reap. Summit participants should publicly call for an end to Cambodian government suppression of the print and electronic media.
The summit is organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), which was established under the auspices of UNESCO, the United Nations agency whose mandate includes protecting media freedom. UNESCO and two other UN agencies are members of the AIBD General Conference. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who will preside over the opening ceremony, has overseen the dismantling of independent radio, TV, print media, and social media in the country.
