Ahead of the Francophonie Summit scheduled for November 15–16 in Phnom Penh, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), acting within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, issued a joint statement on November 12, 2026. The organizations called upon visiting heads of state and government to pressure Cambodian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release five environmental human rights defenders known as the Mother Nature Cambodia 5 (MNC5). By the start of the summit, the group would have spent 866 days in arbitrary detention.
Arbitrary Detention and Judicial Obstruction
The MNC5 consists of Ly Chandaravuth, Thun Ratha, Yim Leanghy, Phuon Keoraksmey, and Long Kunthea, members of Mother Nature Cambodia, a prominent local environmental group dedicated to protecting forests, rivers, and wildlife. Following their peaceful advocacy, authorities deregistered the group in 2017 and subjected its members to harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment for more than a decade. On July 2, 2024, the Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted the five of plotting against the government, with Yim Leanghy additionally charged with insulting the King. Sentences ranged from six to eight years. Although an appeal was filed, the hearing originally set for June 2, 2026, was postponed indefinitely by the Phnom Penh Court of Appeal without a new date being established.
UN Condemnation and Detention Conditions
In February 2026, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that the arrests lacked legal basis, were discriminatory based on political opinion, and resulted from trials violating fair trial rights. The group recommended immediate release and compensation. UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews also raised the case during the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. The signatory organizations highlighted severe detention conditions, noting that detainees are held in facilities far from their families. For instance, Phuon Keoraksmey is imprisoned in Pursat Province, a seven-hour drive from her home in Svay Rieng Province. This isolation prevents regular family contact, contravening international standards. Furthermore, Cambodia’s prison system is critically overcrowded, with LICADHO reporting that 18 of 19 monitored prisons exceeded capacity at the end of 2024, severely limiting access to food and clean water.
Diplomatic Pressure Ahead of Summit
The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie mandates the promotion of democracy and human rights. In June 2026, 74 organizations urged Prime Minister Hun Manet to free the MNC5, renewing this request in October. The current coalition demands that Francophonie leaders raise the case publicly, press for the rescheduling of the appeal, and ensure the transfer of the defenders to prisons near their families. Pending release, leaders must guarantee physical integrity, adequate medical care, and regular access to lawyers and relatives.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
