Cambodia media calls for joint efforts to strengthen media development and climate resilience

2 May 2024, Phnom Penh- Over 220 participants from the media and environmental organizations, youth and indigenous communities, officials from the Ministries of Information and Environment and development partners jointly commemorated the 31st World Press Freedom Day in Cambodia under the theme - A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis. This event, for the first time recognizing the correlation between press freedom and environmental crisis, aimed to provide a platform to discuss joint solutions to strengthen the promotion of the safety of journalists by honoring the critical contribution of the media towards addressing the triple planetary crisis and contributing to the sustainable development of Cambodia.

Through the open and constructive discussions held among relevant stakeholders, this event promoted a common understanding among media stakeholders on their role to address the triple planetary crisis - climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution, and enhance Cambodia's climate resilience; raise the public awareness on the current threats and challenges facing press freedom and journalists, especially environmental journalists in the country when performing their profession.

2 May 2024, Phnom Penh. Over 220 participants from the media and environmental organizations, youth and indigenous communities, officials from the Ministries of Information and Environment and development partners jointly commemorated the 31st World Press Freedom Day in Cambodia under the theme - A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis. This event, for the first time recognizing the correlation between press freedom and environmental crisis, aimed to provide a platform to discuss joint solutions to strengthen the promotion of the safety of journalists by honoring the critical contribution of the media towards addressing the triple planetary crisis and contributing to the sustainable development of Cambodia.

Through the open and constructive discussions held among relevant stakeholders, this event promoted a common understanding among media stakeholders on their role to address the triple planetary crisis - climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution, and enhance Cambodia's climate resilience; raise the public awareness on the current threats and challenges facing press freedom and journalists, especially environmental journalists in the country when performing their profession.

Panel Discussion 1 - Media's role in Enhancing Environmental Awareness and Innovative Solutions Credit CCHR

Panel Discussion 1 - Media's role in Enhancing Environmental Awareness and Innovative Solutions

©CCHR

The second session was dedicated to discussing and promoting collaborative solutions to promote the safety of journalists and media professionals, towards fostering an enabling environment where journalists can report freely and bring a diversity of issues and insights around environmental issues.

Panel Discussion 2 - Strengthening Environmental Journalism in Cambodia Credit CCHR

Panel Discussion 2 - Strengthening Environmental Journalism in Cambodia

©CCHR

During the event, H.E. Mr. Tep Asnarith, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Information, presented key findings of the Report on the State of Press Freedom in Cambodia launched by the Ministry in April 2024, while Mr. Nop Vy, Executive Director of Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), and Mr. Houn Phorn, Project Coordinator of Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) presented findings from the Monitoring Reports on the Harassment, Threats and Detention on Journalists in Cambodia. These contributed to the open and constructive discussion on joint efforts to strengthen the safety of journalists and freedom of expression in Cambodia, within the framework of the UN Plan of Action and the Issue of Impunity.

H.E. Mr. Tep Asnarith, Ministry of Information Spokesperson_credit CamboJA

H.E. Mr. Tep Asnarith, Ministry of Information Spokesperson

©CamboJA

Ms. Camilla Ottosson, Minister Counsellor and Head of Embassy of Sweden Section Office in Phnom Penh, emphasized that "the public needs a media with strong environmental journalism to provide reliable information to help citizens sort facts from fiction and dis-/misinformation on digital platforms and raise their awareness through accurate, timely and comprehensive reporting on environmental issues, their consequences and innovative solutions developed by communities."

Nop Vy, Executive Director CamboJA, delivering closing remark Credit CCHR

Nop Vy, Executive Director CamboJA, delivering closing remark

©CCHR

This event was jointly organized by over 10 media organizations and CSOs, with the support from UNESCO and Sweden, including Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), BBC Media Action, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), Cambodian Female Journalists (CFJ), Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), Cambodian Youth Network (CYN), Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP), Transparency International Cambodia (TI Cambodia), and Women Media Centre (WMC).

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