Cambodia moves to draft news reporting guidelines to protect vulnerable groups

PHNOM PENH, Feb 4, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s Ministry of Information has begun consultations with international organisations on new guidelines aimed at strengthening ethical standards in news reporting, particularly concerning children, women and other vulnerable groups.

The meeting, held on February 3, brought together ministry officials and representatives from international partners to discuss a framework for cooperation on developing the “Guidelines on News Reporting.”

The initiative seeks to ensure that media coverage promotes and protects individual rights, especially in the digital environment.

The ministry said the guidelines would reinforce journalistic ethics and support existing legal instruments, building on the Cambodian Journalists’ Code of Professional Conduct issued in August 2024.

The session was chaired by Under Secretary of State and ministry spokesperson Tep Asnarith, with senior officials from the General Department of Information and Audiovisual in attendance.

Representatives from Plan International Cambodia, Save the Children Cambodia, World Vision International, UNICEF Cambodia and CARE also took part.

Discussions focused on establishing a cooperation framework and practical mechanisms to support the drafting process.

Asnarith described the initiative as part of broader efforts to strengthen Cambodia’s media sector through partnerships with domestic and international stakeholders.

He said the aim was to improve the quality and effectiveness of journalism while ensuring reporting remains within the legal framework.

He urged journalists, content creators and social media users to respect ethical standards and avoid publishing content that could infringe on individual rights.

The ministry added that cooperation with non-governmental organisations would help build public trust in journalism and enhance protection of individual rights and information security.