“Freedom of Religion and Belief” in Cambodia has seen significant shifts over the years. The Cambodian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but historically, there have been periods of religious suppression, notably during the Khmer Rouge regime. Since then, Cambodia has made efforts to safeguard religious rights but challenges persist, including social attitudes, political influences, and issues faced by religious minorities.
“Diving Deep into Cambodia’s Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB): An Exploration of Community Hopes and Collective Hurdles” delves into the current state of FoRB in Cambodia. Implemented in collaboration and partnership with community action researchers, Continuing Learning Organization, Peace Bridges Organization, and Danmission Cambodia, this comprehensive research explores the historical background, constitutional protections, contemporary challenges, and the impact of FoRB on Cambodia’s diverse religious communities. The research tackles five key objectives as follows:
- Examine the Legal Landscape: This objective assesses the legal framework surrounding FoRB in Cambodia. It explores the legal support for religious freedom and any existing restrictions. Additionally, it investigates how these laws are implemented at the local level.
- FoRB within Communities: This objective will explore the status of FoRB within individual religious and belief communities in Cambodia.
- Intra-Community Violations: This objective focuses on identifying and describing instances where the FoRB of members of each religious community may be violated.
- Interfaith Connections: This objective aims to identify and describe the current connections and interactions between different faith communities within Cambodia.
- Role of Religious Practices: This objective delves into the essential and inspirational contributions of religious practices within Cambodian communities.
Drawing from the main findings of this research, while Cambodia’s legal framework theoretically supports freedom of religion and belief, its implementation remains problematic. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach involving legal reforms, societal education, and robust international human rights advocacy. By fostering mutual respect and understanding, promoting inclusive religious practices, and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, Cambodia can become a more harmonious and resilient society that celebrates a diversity of religions and beliefs.
Read and download the PDF for free here: FoRB Report 2024
