The use of the term “Scambodia” in an article by The Wall Street Journal on April 19, 2026, demonstrates a lack of professionalism and journalistic ethics that can lead to misunderstandings, discrimination, and seriously affect the rights, dignity, and honor of the country and its nearly 18 million Cambodian people, which are guaranteed by the United Nations Charter and international human rights law.
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press play a very important role in society, but these freedoms must be exercised responsibly and with respect for the dignity of the individual, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, etc. Headlines, although intended to attract attention, should not be exaggerated, distorted, or exaggerated beyond the truth, which would inevitably lead to a loss of trust and the value of press freedom. Human rights, especially the right to honor, dignity, and respect, are the aspirations of every individual and should not be subjected to insults in any way, such as the use of various terms in any news article or report.
In view of the serious violation and impact on the honor and fundamental freedoms of the country and the people of Cambodia, the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) requests The Wall Street Journal to:
• Remove the word “Scambodia” from its article immediately
• Issue a correction or clarification that reflects accurate and balanced reporting
• Avoid using offensive language in future publications
• Issue a formal apology for the use of the title
• Revise the title to reflect accuracy, balance, and non-discrimination in this matter.
(This is a summary of the letter sent to The Wall Street Journal “in English”. The full text in Khmer will be published later)
