Cambodia's tourism boom fuels human rights abuses in Preah Sihanouk

23-04-2023

Lone de Chene

Southeast Asia and Pacific and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

Each year, millions of tourists visit Cambodia. Especially after COVID the country welcomes them happily, but it appears the wave of tourism is the cause of human rights violations.

In Preah Sihanouk, a coastal region known for its white sand beaches, locals are facing eviction. The Cambodian government has big plans for the region, this includes luxury homes, beach clubs and entertainment facilities, all at the cost of the livelihood of the fishers that live there right now.

According to the United Nations, forced evictions like this violate a wide range of internationally recognized human rights, including, but not limited to, the rights to adequate housing, food, water, health, education, work and security of the person. 

Cambodian human rights organisation Licadho has investigated 787 of the evictions that happened between 2017 and 2022, which is just a fraction of the true number. Apart from this investigation, it seems like the situation is not getting a lot of attention and the people in Preah Sihanouk are on their own.

Sources and further readings: 

Kelliher and Soriththeavy. (2023, April 11). ‘Everywhere is broken’: how land grabs in Cambodia are demolishing lives. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/11/everywhere-is-broken-how-land-grabs-in-cambodia-are-demolishing-lives 

OHCHR. (n.d.). Forced evictions and human rights. https://www.ohchr.org/en/forced-evictions-and-human-rights#:~:text=Moreover%2C%20forced%20evictions%20violate%20a,treatment%2C%20and%20freedom%20of%20movement.