Cambodia is moving to secure the long-term future of its social accountability reforms by shifting responsibility and budget ownership to national and sub-national administrations, a development highlighted during a November 20 study visit to Kandal province. The visit, organized by the national committee for sub-national democratic development (NCDD) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Kandal Provincial Administration and World Vision International, brought together ministries, provincial authorities and members of the Capital–Provincial Social Accountability Working Groups to observe how local administrations are beginning to fund and implement social accountability work on their own. “The initiative marks a major step toward sustaining social…
Author: Raksmey Hong
At 70, Lee Bok-Soo still descends into the cold waters off Jeju Island, holding on to a centuries-old practice that is now fighting for survival. As one of only 35 haenyeo left in her village, she embodies both the pride and the profound hardship that define the island’s iconic free-diving women. Haenyeo, known for harvesting seafood without oxygen tanks, have long been central to Jeju’s identity and economy. Their skill, resilience and cooperative spirit earned global recognition, including UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status. Yet the tradition now stands on the edge of extinction as younger generations turn away from a…
Students were urged to strengthen their technical and human-centred skills at an industry forum in Phnom Penh on November 19, where speakers warned that Cambodia’s future workforce must be prepared for an economy increasingly shaped by rapid digital transformation. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, themed “Education for Transformation”, associate vice-president of CamTech University Lilian Li explained that the priority is to ensure students can translate classroom knowledge into practical impacts — an approach she said aligns with Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy on human capital development. “We stand at the intersection of academia, industry and sustainable development — united…
Singaporean ambassador to Cambodia Teo Lay Cheng has urged young Cambodians to play a decisive role in shaping the future of Singapore–Cambodia relations, saying their ideas and energy will define the partnership as both countries commemorate 60 years of diplomatic ties. Speaking on November 12 at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy (IISPP), as part of the ASEAN Ambassadorial Lecture Series, Teo told more than 60 students and researchers that the next chapter of bilateral cooperation will hinge on identifying “new and emerging areas of complementarity” that build on existing strengths. “Although Singapore and Cambodia may appear different…
The Photo Phnom Penh Festival returns for its 16th edition from November 19 to December 19, unveiling one of its most thought-provoking programmes to date. With more than a dozen major exhibitions across the capital, the month-long event positions photography as a powerful conduit between memory, history and the planet’s increasingly fragile future. Launched in 2008, the festival — initiated by the Centre culturel français, now the Institut français du Cambodge — has grown into a leading platform for artistic exchange between Asia and Europe. “This year’s curatorial direction underscores that mission by bringing together historical archives, contemporary documentary work,…
The Business Society Youth Club of the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP) has announced the launch of its upcoming “Youth and Business Summit 2025”, an event designed to empower Cambodian youth through entrepreneurship, innovation and local business development. The summit will take place on November 21, at the AUPP Tech Center, and will be open to the public free of charge. “Founded to inspire and unite young people with interests in business, the Business Society Youth Club aims to help students gain valuable experience, exchange knowledge and build perspectives that align with Cambodia’s long-term economic ambitions,” explained the organisers.…
Cambodian and Thai technical teams convened at the Poipet International Gate on Tuesday to advance preparations for erecting temporary markers along a section of their shared border, following the recent approval of the Technical Instruction (TI) form by the Joint Border Committee (JBC). A senior official from Cambodia’s Secretariat of State for Border Affairs said the joint team will now begin on-site inspections. “The joint survey team from the two countries will inspect the location and progress of the temporary marker work between border posts 42 and 47, covering the areas of O’Beichoan commune in O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province,…
The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) has issued a forceful condemnation after a Cambodian female migrant worker was allegedly gang-raped by seven Thai soldiers, describing the assault as a “grave crime” and a blatant violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. According to the CHRC statement released today, November 18, the 18-year-old victim was attacked on the night of 15 November while returning home from Thailand. The committee said the crime reflects a broader pattern of abuse committed by Thai armed forces against Cambodian civilians amid ongoing tensions along the border. “The CHRC condemns this abhorrent act in the…
Cambodia is using this year’s ASEAN Trade Fair to intensify its push into the South Korean market, banking on rising consumer interest in high-quality agricultural goods and a deepening ASEAN–Korea economic partnership that officials say is entering a “new, forward-looking phase”. The fair, held in Ilsan from November 13 to 16, opened Friday, as part of ASEAN Week 2025 and gathered more than 70 food and beverage companies from across the region. Organised by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, the annual exhibition aims to help ASEAN SMEs build connections with Korean buyers and expand their market presence through both B2B and B2C…
Minister of Information Neak Pheaktra has offered sharp criticism of Royal Thai Army spokesman Winthai Suwaree for what he described as a series of “unprofessional, unverified and misleading claims” regarding the fatal shooting of a Cambodian civilian along the Banteay Meanchey border. He urged the Thai side to “verify before speaking”, noting that a spokesman’s duty is to defend truth — not distort it. The remarks follow Winthai’s public dismissal of reports that Thai soldiers opened fire on civilians in Prey Chan village on 12 November, killing one man and injuring three others. Despite forensic evidence and documentation presented to…