Human rights experts have raised concerns over vaccine mandates imposed in Cambodia, where authorities say proof of vaccination will be required to obtain a social security card and to enter many public and private spaces in the capital.
Earlier this month the Phnom Penh municipal authority said that anyone aged above six years must show proof of vaccination in order to enter markets, restaurants, factories and other public and private spaces. Institutions that fail to carry out checks could be closed down, according to local media reports.
Since then, the National Social Security Fund has also said it will only provide cards to people who can show a Covid vaccination card or certificate.
Cambodia, which has relied on China for vaccine supplies, has succeeded in quickly rolling out vaccinations. Mekong Strategic Partners, a Cambodia-based investment and risk management firm, praised the country for “dramatically outperforming many developed and developing nations”.
According to Our World in Data, Cambodia has vaccinated more than 76% of the population, one of the highest rates in the world.
However, human rights groups have criticised the compulsory nature of the vaccination campaign. Human Rights Watch said the latest rules risked violating people’s basic rights, and preventing them from accessing key services.
Earlier this year, UN experts urged the government to consider revoking rules that require all civil servants and military personnel to be vaccinated. It noted that, at the time, the majority of vaccines offered in the country had not at that point been approved by WHO.
Cambodia currently offers AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, and Sinovac vaccines.
In September, Cambodia began vaccinating children aged six to 12 in September, becoming one of the few countries globally to do so. While the Pfizer vaccine has been approved by WHO for children aged 12-17, no vaccine has been approved for under 12s.