Cambodian women, especially journalists and activists, are facing growing threats of online gender-based violence, civil society group the Asia Centre said in a new report.
As more women human rights defenders and reporters use digital tools for advocacy, attacks have also moved online, the report said, citing a rise in technology-facilitated gender-based violence, or TFGBV – abuse committed on the basis of gender and enabled or amplified by digital platforms.
“Despite the severity of the issue, women’s experiences with TFGBV in Cambodia remain poorly documented,” the Asia Centre said. The group interviewed 12 women from highly visible activist, media and civil society organisations and conducted extensive desk research for the report.
Gender-based violence, or GBV, is a long-standing issue in Cambodia and forms the broader context in which TFGBV occurs. From 2021 to 2024, an estimated 34% of Cambodian women (from ages 15-49), who make up more than half the population, experienced some form of GBV, according to the National Institute of Statistics.
This type of violence is a global issue, with nearly one in three women aged 15 and older estimated to have experienced gender-based abuse that cuts across age, location and income, according to the World Health Organization.
A 2023 UNESCO study that surveyed women journalists globally, including in Cambodia, found that 73% had experienced online violence.
Many online attackers are seen as targeting prominent women to silence them and undermine their credibility, putting their civic freedoms at risk, including freedom of expression, belief, and the right to safety and privacy.
Chea Sokny, a journalist with the Women’s Media Center of Cambodia, said that after four years in the field, she has seen and experienced frequent verbal abuse, often laced with gendered insults and inappropriate language from sources.
“The situation for women in journalism isn’t great – it’s still a concern,” Sokny said. “When we go out to report, we’re still seen as the weaker sex, judged or sexualised. Sometimes I feel like giving up on this profession.”
Another journalist, Phon Sothyroth, echoed Sokny’s concerns and experiences.
Sothyroth, who often covers human rights, said she has faced harassment from authorities while reporting. She urged against brushing aside the issue, stressing the vital role women play in the media.
More broadly, threats – including online abuse – remain a problem for the entirety of Cambodia’s press corps, which continues to face arrests, detentions, blacklisting and even death.
Beyond journalists, women activists, especially those fighting land grabs and disputes with government and private companies, face a high risk of GBV, the Asia Centre said.
Land rights advocate Phav Nheung from Koh Kong province said she is often threatened in person and online when demanding justice for land grabs in her community.
“When I speak out on social media, ghost accounts attack me, saying I should be jailed again. Some messages warn me to stop if I care about my husband and children,” Nheung said.
The nearly 45-page report highlighted key strategies and challenges for tackling TFGBV in Cambodia.
It called for a multi-stakeholder approach, starting with raising awareness at all levels. Its researchers said this should include integrating gender education in schools, strengthening policies, improving reporting systems, and working with tech and media platforms to curb harmful content.
But even with a strategy in place, the rapid pace of tech innovation and its unintended consequences remain a challenge.
Emerging technologies, such as AI, could make the problem worse, the report noted, pointing to deepfakes and cloned messages that complicate efforts to track and prevent online abuse.
