PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen celebrated the 20th World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2023 under the theme "Determining the future of freedom of expression as a driving force of other human rights."

To commemorate World Press Freedom Day, the Prime Minister released a message dated April 29, stating that he remains committed to protecting the right to freedom of expression and the press in accordance with Cambodia’s Constitution and the Law on the Press. "All journalists and stakeholders seek joint solutions to ensure sustainable press freedom and freedom of expression for the entire world," he said.

He emphasized that it is due to this commitment, that Cambodian media is more modern and enriched than ever, which enables people both in and outside of the country to receive a wide range of up-to-date information wherever they may be.

He went on to say that the quality and responsibility of journalists must be taken into account, as the media is a double-edged sword that makes the country prosperous and maintains peace, through political stability, but that it can also make the country suffer. He said media can cause chaos in society by disseminating false information which pollutes society and harms the nation.

The PM stated that, therefore, it is required that institutions and journalists be active in the fight against false information, fake news, and inciting information distributed by a handful of opportunists and crooks under the banner of freedom of press to serve their own interests. He said the fight is for the benefit of the nation by reinforcing the honor and dignity of journalists and the media as a whole.

The PM commended all the journalists who have contributed to the work of the nation in the past, despite the impact of global political crises, the pandemic and the global economic crisis. He called on national and international journalists who seek information in Cambodia and around the world to perform their duties in accordance with professional ethics and to strive to further develop their capabilities in terms of technical skills, production and dissemination information to increase public confidence.

He specifically encouraged media outlets to keep current with the evolution of digital media technology to be more competitive in the market and to avoid misrepresenting the facts which could undermine the honor, dignity and value of the free press in the public’s eye.