The Cambodian Center for Independent Media is setting up its Media Support Desk to provide specialized legal assistance to journalists and media professionals in Cambodia. With grant from the Global Media Defence Fund of UNESCO, Media Support Desk of CCIM will have three major activities: 1) mapping of legal aid organizations and private lawyers providing legal assistance to journalists; 2) provide specialized free legal assistance, including, but not limited to, legal advice and legal representation to journalists or media organizations facing threats, attacks, restrictions or judicial pressures for the rightful exercise of their possessions in Cambodia; and 3) organize consultations and/or meetings with journalists and legal aid organizations working in Cambodia.
Below is an interview by UNESCO with the Advocacy Coordinator of CCIM who is responsible in the implementation of the project. This interview is originally published on UNESCO website.
UNESCO: Could you present yourself and introduce how you become committed to promoting media freedom?
San Vattanakvatey: “The Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) was established in 2007 with the primary goals of promoting independent media and advocating for media freedom in Cambodia. CCIM engages in media reporting from broadcast to online platforms. Aside from media work, CCIM also engages in media development activities, such as training of journalists, promoting media and information literacy, and advocacy on media-related issues.”
UNESCO: What is the mission of the Organization you are working for?
SV: “CCIM’s mission is to ‘fearlessly bring the information to the people that matters to them’ in collaboration with the Cambodian citizens and civil society organizations in pursuit to its vision of a Cambodian society where ‘everybody is well-informed and empowered to contribute in strengthening democratic governance and respect for human rights.’”
UNESCO: What will you do thanks to the grant by the Global Media Defence Fund?
SV: “CCIM is very grateful for the grant, which can help CCIM in providing legal services to the journalists who receive legal threats or being litigated due to their reporting work. The grant may not be enough to respond to all the needs of the victim-journalists, but CCIM hopes to encourage more support from other groups here and abroad.”
UNESCO: What will be the impact of this action?
SV: “With this grant, CCIM is targeting to serve around 13 journalists who are facing court charges and potential clients. These legal services hope to encourage and boost the morale of the journalists to continue their journalism work freely and safely. With the production of mapping of legal services for journalists available in Cambodia, it aims also to help journalists and their families seek legal support quickly from the groups providing legal services. The action also aims to promote the need for protection to the journalists and media institutions doing their profession to inform the people.”
UNESCO: Any suggestions/recommendations you would like to make to UNESCO as administrator of this Fund and to its donors?
SV: “Since most of court cases progress so slow and mostly take a long time to complete, we would like to suggest to UNESCO to look for donors and provide us continuous support to sustain these services to the journalists.”
