Journalists covering a press conference at Phnom Penh Municipal Hall. - Photo: The Phnom Penh Post file
PHNOM PENH: The Permanent Mission of Cambodia in Geneva, the Ministry of Information and several of Cambodia’s press associations have strongly defended the recently issued Charter for Professional Journalism, following calls by United Nations experts for its suspension.
The experts expressed concerns over the rushed development of the charter and the lack of comprehensive consultation during its drafting process, urging reforms to safeguard freedom of expression and the press.
In a report released on Sept 12, UN specialists criticised the Cambodian government for providing stakeholders only nine days to comment on the draft, raising alarms over the charter's broad scope and its failure to establish proper remedies for factual errors.
“The charter fails to incorporate a public interest override or establish the rights of correction and reply,” the experts stated, stressing that the process should have been more inclusive and transparent.
They emphasised that Cambodia, as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, should ensure its media regulations comply with international human rights law, particularly in relation to freedom of expression.
In a press statement released on Tuesday (Sept 17), the permanent mission described the charter as a "legal milestone to protect journalists and build public trust in the media" and expressed perplexity over what it termed a "misleading and prejudiced" report by UN human rights experts.
According to the statement, the charter was formulated based on comprehensive consultations and evaluations with over 300 journalists, media associations and relevant institutions.
It added that contrary to the claims made by the UN, the charter ensures the right to access truthful information and upholds the duties and responsibilities associated with press freedom.
“The charter was created by journalists and for journalists, serving the interests of the profession and upholding public trust,” the statement read.
It emphasised that Cambodia values press and media freedom in accordance with the law, but clarified that this freedom does not include the right to spread fake news, disinformation, malinformation or misinformation.
It noted that the rapid growth of over 2,000 registered media outlets and more than 10,000 journalists is evidence of the need for clear ethical standards.
“[The charter] establishes clear operational standards for journalistic ethics through rules and minimum standards and is crucial to promoting and protecting professional journalism and public interest,” the statement stated.
The permanent mission urged the experts to follow the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate-holders, avoiding public statements that may interfere with Cambodia's domestic affairs.
The UN's call to suspend the charter sparked swift reactions from a number of the country’s press associations.
On September 18, the Cambodian News Network Alliance Association (CNA), the Association of Young Journalists (AYJ) and the Cambodian Journalists Development Skill Association (CJDS) jointly condemned the UN's stance.
They stated that the suspension disregards the collective efforts of the country’s media community.
In a joint statement, they argued that the charter represents the consensus of the press, journalists and stakeholders who worked diligently to draft a framework that promotes ethical and professional journalism in Cambodia.
“The charter is critical in steering media activities away from the misuse of social media, where unprofessional and unethical information can lead to instability and a lack of transparency,” the statement read, underscoring the charter's importance in guiding non-professional journalists and social media users toward ethical practices.
The UN experts emphasised that any professional media code should be created by the media itself, not through a process led by the ministry, and that any oversight or monitoring mechanisms should be independent from government authorities.
They pointed out that the charter does not provide such assurances, according to a press release from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Information ministry spokesman Tep Asnarith echoed the press associations’ sentiments, expressing disappointment with the UN experts' criticism.
Asnarith defended the charter's development, highlighting that over 550 participants, including journalists and media stakeholders, were involved in the two consultation processes.
He characterised the UN's critique as a "major failure" to recognise the ministry’s role in coordinating the process and noted that the charter is based on national laws and international frameworks, including UNESCO guidelines.
“The call to suspend the charter undermines the collective will and efforts of Cambodia’s media and audiovisual sectors,” he said.
“This is an historic achievement for Cambodia’s news and audiovisual industries, which was widely welcomed before its official announcement.”
Asnarith also rejected claims that the charter was rushed, stating that consultations began in April 2024 and continued until its promulgation.
According to the ministry, the charter is intended to set minimum standards of journalistic ethics, enhance media professionalism and ensure information security, contributing to the country’s press freedom and socio-economic development. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
