In Bangladesh, two years after the July Uprising, Bangladesh's democratic transition has entered a decisive implementation phase. While the July National Charter continues to provide a shared framework for constitutional and institutional reform, political consensus on how those reforms should be implemented has begun to erode. Constitutional disagreements, the evolving role of
In June 2026, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and South Korea presented divergent but interlinked pictures of democratic governance under stress. In Bangladesh, the central democratic challenge during the post election period spread to be the growing gap between ambitious post-July reform commitments and their practical implementation. Nearly two years after the 2024 July
In October 2025, ANFREL continued to observe significant political and electoral developments across Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar. In Bangladesh, ahead of the 13th National Elections scheduled for February 2026, twenty-two political parties endorsed the July National Charter 2025 on 17 October 2025, following an extensive process of dialogue facilitated by the National
In September 2025, notable political and electoral developments took place across Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar. In Bangladesh, the National Consensus Commission continued to struggle to secure agreement among political parties on the July charter ahead of the upcoming elections, while the Election Commission pressed forward with its preparations. Along the Cambodia–Thailand border,
In August 2025, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar witnessed significant political and electoral developments. The Election Commission intensified preparations for the upcoming general elections by introducing a new electoral roadmap. Meanwhile, in Myanmar, the military junta pushed forward with plans for its first election since the 2021 coup, introducing amendments to the electoral
In July 2025, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar experienced a series of significant political and electoral developments, with notable election-related activity in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Bangladesh is preparing for its first national elections since the 2024 uprising, while Myanmar’s military junta is advancing plans for its first election since the 2021 coup. In
In June 2025, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar witnessed a series of significant political and electoral developments. Bangladesh’s political landscape was marked by continued dialogue under the National Consensus Commission, with key debates over election timing, reform implementation, and party strategies. Tensions rose as Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted the second round’s opening session, while the
In May 2025, the political landscapes in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar were marked by escalating tensions, deepening repression, and shrinking civic space. In Bangladesh, the struggle over national election time intensified with pressure on the Interim Government from both political parties and civil society. The chief advisor’s threat to resign underscored the
The April 2025 edition of the Resilience Watch Report highlights key democratic developments and resilience efforts across Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar. In Bangladesh, political consultations and electoral reforms gained momentum as the country moves toward its next national elections. Cambodia saw continued civic engagement and discussions around digital freedoms, while Myanmar's pro-democracy
Overview Cambodia’s democratic façade has steadily eroded, revealing an entrenched system of authoritarian rule masked by electoral formalities. While the country continues to claim democratic legitimacy, in practice it functions as a single-party state dominated by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which has maintained power through manipulated elections, tight media control, and
This monthly brief provides updates on the state of democracy, elections, civic space, and media freedom in selected Asian countries and territories experiencing restrictive environments. "Resilience Watch" is part of ANFREL’s broader campaign and advocacy efforts aimed at informing the public and relevant stakeholders about the human rights and democracy situation in
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT HERE: "Asian Electoral Review: Advancing Electoral Democracy through Electoral Reforms" The year 2024 has been dubbed as the year of elections with more than 50 countries and territories around the world set to hold national and regional elections.1 In the first quarter of the year alone, Bangladesh and
To:The European Union ParliamentThe United States CongressThe Parliament of CanadaThe Parliament of AustraliaThe Parliament of United KingdomThe Parliament of New ZealandThe Parliament of Japan Your Honors, We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are writing to express our grave concerns about the state of human rights and democracy in Cambodia. Cambodia is continuing
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) filed a submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council on the situation in Cambodia ahead of the 46th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group. ANFREL's submission is based on the pre-election assessment missions it conducted during the 2022 Commune and Sangkat
22 July 2023. The undersigned organizations express our profound concern over the upcoming election for the National Assembly in Cambodia, scheduled to occur tomorrow. We firmly believe that this election is poised to lack genuineness and meaningful electoral competitiveness, raising serious doubts about its adherence to democratic principles and international election standards.
ANFREL released its pre-election assessment mission report on the 2023 Cambodian General Election on 5 July 2023. ANFREL found that the elections scheduled for 23 July 2023 in Cambodia will continue to fall short of being free and fair. Read the executive summary of the report below: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Asian Network
Human rights advocacy groups are hosting a panel discussion about the 2023 Cambodian General Election on Wednesday, 5 July 2023. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and FORUM-ASIA will discuss the human rights and democracy challenges ahead of the general election in
The arrest of three staffers from the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC) and the unfounded charges of incitement and plotting against the nation marks yet another case of Cambodian authorities imprisoning human rights defenders for their peaceful activism. We, the undersigned groups, demand an end to the persecution of human rights
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) expresses deep concern over the disqualification of the Candlelight Party from contesting in the upcoming general election in Cambodia scheduled for July 2023. This decision by the National Election Committee (NEC) further undermines the democratic process in the country and denies the Cambodian people’s right
Lek Karry has been using a smartphone for nearly two years but the grade 12 student admits she still struggles to distinguish between real and fake information online. An indigenous Brao from Ke Kuong village in northeastern Ratanakiri province, Karry initially got a smartphone to study online during the height of the
Phnom Penh, February 13, 2023 – We, the undersigned media and civil society organizations, are deeply disturbed by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s order to revoke the license of Voice of Democracy (VOD), one of the last remaining independent media outlets in Cambodia. We also condemn the recent sexual harassment and intimidation of
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) condemns the shutdown of the Voice of Democracy (VOD) in Cambodia today, a blatant attack on media freedom and a gross violation of the Cambodian people’s right to access information. Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the revocation of the license of the country’s one of
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is concerned with the recent arrest of Candlelight Party's Thach Setha in Cambodia.
The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) published the findings of their monitoring of the 2022 Commune and Sangkat Council Elections. COMFREL looked at several components of the election including the legal framework, election administration and management, campaign environment and the conduct of the polling and counting procedures on
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is alarmed by the constitutional amendments passed on 28 July 2022 by the National Assembly of Cambodia that are detrimental to parliamentary democracy. The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which controls all of the seats in the National Assembly, is preparing for the post-Hun Sen
First published on COMFREL's website on 10 June 2022. Civil Society Organizations that have collaboratively deployed election observers to monitor the situation of the Commune/Sangkat Councils Election in the 5th mandate, which took place on 5 June 2022, have found election irregularities occurring during the polling process on the voting and counting
First published on COMFREL's website on 10 June 2022. During the campaign phase of the Commune /Sangkat Councils Election, 5th mandate 2022, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) deployed Long-Term Observers in the Capital and provinces to monitor the electoral process. During this election campaign process, COMFREL observed
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) published its pre-election assessment report of the 2022 Cambodia commune and sangkat council elections on 6 May 2022. Cambodia will hold its fifth commune and sangkat council elections on 5 June 2022. About 9.2 million registered voters are expected to elect the chief and councilors among over
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) will hold a joint press conference with the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists this Friday, 6 May 2022, about the human rights and democracy situation in Cambodia ahead of the Commune and Sangkat Council Elections. Cambodia
This monthly brief intends to provide an update on democracy and election-related issues in selected countries and territories under a restrictive environment. Download here: Monthly Brief on Countries under Restrictive Environment - Series #11: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong & Myanmar (February 2022)