Plenary speech on Cambodia's draft laws on NGOs and trade unions

Marietje Schaake - Mr President, we are all worried that the vital role that Cambodian civil society plays – and there are around 5 000 NGOs registered – will be stifled by the proposed NGO law, which is restrictive and contradicts not only the Cambodian Constitution but also the international law commitments that the government is bound by. With our strong commitment to human rights, the EU is spending about EUR 410 million between 2014 and 2020. We call on Cambodia’s authorities not only to respect human rights but to appreciate the vital role for liberties that a flourishing civil society has and represents as an integral part of sustainable development and growth, and to appreciate that the two should go hand in hand. We urge the Cambodian Government to act accordingly and respect the freedoms and rights of association of civil society.