Soum Chankea
Soum Chankea is a provincial coordinator for the Banteay Meanchey province at the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC). The organisation was founded in 1991 to monitor the development and protection of human rights, in particular of land and natural resources rights. ADHOC provides legal assistance to victims of land evictions and engages in land rights advocacy through press statements and conferences, publication of thematic reports and cooperation with the National Human Rights Commission.
The Cambodian authorities use legislation and the judicial system, and threats of arrest or legal action, to restrict free speech, jail government critics, and disperse workers, trade union representatives and farmers engaging in peaceful assembly. HRDs who work to promote and protect economic, social, and cultural rights are particularly at risk of persecution.
