FLA/AAFA urge the Cambodian government to ensure respect for civil society

In a letter to senior Cambodian officials, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) strongly urged the Cambodian government to immediately cancel its “national security” audit of NGO CENTRAL and ensure respect for civil society.

The letter reads in part, “We are writing to you to express our grave alarm at the Cambodian government’s upcoming ‘national security’ audit of CENTRAL, a non-governmental organization (NGO). We urge the Cambodian government in the strongest possible terms to immediately cancel the audit…

“Government and global buyers are sometimes challenged by what they perceive as misleading or inaccurate allegations made by NGOs. However, the overriding value of freedom of speech in ensuring a free civil society means that the appropriate response in such cases is to speak up and counter those claims, rather than to eliminate the ability of those we may disagree with to speak at all. Robust discourse, especially with diverse perspectives, even if critical, is the foundation of a thriving and successful society. As such, it is especially important for governments to foster a climate that promotes civil society and free speech to avoid a broader chilling effect not only on civil society and society overall but also a society’s perceived viability as a responsible sourcing destination.”

Read the full letter.

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