The Kingdom’s authorities have announced that they will pursue legal action against any legal entities or individuals who produce or share online content that negatively affects the “honour and dignity of Cambodian women”. They specifically warned against content that “harms the rich values of Khmer culture, traditions and customs”.
On April 2, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts released the “Prohibition of Producing, Disseminating, and Sharing Content that Affects National Culture, Traditions, Customs, Honor, Dignity, and the Value of Cambodian Women” directive, noting that the information ministry has previously provided guidelines.
The directive warned that some content creators continue to violate these guidelines.
Amongst the violations it listed were offensive language, immoral expressions and the use of women’s bodies in indecent and sexually suggestive ways to attract attention or promote personal or commercial interests. These activities could seriously harm national culture, traditions and social morality, it said.
The directive declared that such content negatively impacts the honour and dignity of Cambodian women and undermines deeply rooted cultural values that have preserved over generations.
It also warned against blindly imitating foreign cultural models that objectify women through shameful or sexually suggestive portrayals, as this erodes dignity and deviates from Cambodian traditions. This trend could lead to a decline in moral values and weaken younger generations’ understanding of Khmer identity.
To promote Khmer culture and moral values — especially in the context of digital and media development — the directive urged content creators, social media users, citizen journalists and all media outlets to adhere to six key principles:
- Stop producing and sharing any content — text, audio, video or images — that uses vulgar language, insults or displays indecent and sexually suggestive behaviour, such as overly revealing clothing, obscene gestures or violent acts which are contrary to Khmer moral values.
- Stop using women’s bodies or related activities in indecent or suggestive ways as tools to gain likes, shares, views or to promote products for personal or group interests.
- Promote and share content that helps preserve Khmer culture and traditions, elevates the dignity and value of Cambodian women, and highlights their roles in society and on the international stage.
- Avoid all advertisements that use imagery or language involving gender discrimination or that violate the dignity of women and individuals.
- Uphold journalistic ethics and professionalism, and comply with existing laws by refraining from producing or sharing content that negatively affects the value of women.
- Encourage creative, educational content that showcases skills, life, arts, culture and Khmer traditions to help build a knowledgeable, ethical and civilised society, while promoting gender equality in present and future Cambodia.
The ministries called on all stakeholders to implement the directive.
“The ministries will take strict legal action against any legal or natural persons who continue to produce and disseminate content contrary to this directive after receiving educational measures,” it warned.