human rights defender
Phoun Keoreaksmey
Actions and Campaigns
human rights defender
Actions and Campaigns
Legal aid and social assistance
2001
Woman
Urban
In prison (sentenced)
Phoun Keo Reaksmey is a young and dedicated Cambodian environmental activist associated with the Mother Nature movement. Born in 2001, she has been actively involved in campaigns to protect Cambodia’s natural resources, particularly focusing on issues like sand dredging and the preservation of Phnom Penh’s Bueng Ta-mouk lake, Koh Kong Province’s Koh Kong Krao Island. In September 2020, Reaksmey was arrested along with fellow activists for planning a peaceful protest to protect the lake. She was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison on charges of "incitement to cause societal chaos". Despite these legal challenges, Reaksmey remains committed to advocating for environmental sustainability and human rights in Cambodia.
Jul 2, 2024
6 years imprisonment
Latitude: 12.486978901906042
Longitude: 103.92977054493512
Pursat
Pursat provincial prison
Five environmental defenders from Mother Nature Cambodia—Long Kunthea, Yim Leanghy, Thun Ratha, Phuon Keoraksmey, and Ly Chandaravuth—have spent nearly a year and a half in prison awaiting their appeal hearing. Since their July 2024 conviction by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, they have remained imprisoned and isolated, separated not only from their families but also from one another. On 2 July 2024, the five activists were convicted of "plotting," with Yim Leanghy facing an additional conviction for "lèse-majesté." They were sentenced to terms ranging from six to eight years; five other members were convicted in absentia on the same day. The Phnom Penh Appeal Court originally scheduled their hearing for 26 June 2025. However, just days before the date, the trial was postponed, reportedly due to administrative issues regarding court summons for those convicted in absentia. Throughout this period, the five bail requests have been repeatedly rejected: bail requests were denied by the Appeal Court on 17 February and 1 December 2025, and by the Supreme Court on 30 April 2025 and 2 March 2026. By the end of March 2026, no date of appeal trial has been set.
Potential violations of the right to a fair trial for five Mother Nature Cambodia activists https://cchrcambodia.org/en/publications/briefing-note/potential-violations-of-the-right-to-a-fair-trial-for-five-mother-nature-cambodia-activists
Documented by

Phoun Keo Reaksmey is a young and dedicated Cambodian environmental activist associated with the Mother Nature movement. Born in 2001, she has been actively involved in campaigns to protect Cambodia’s natural resources, particularly focusing on issues like sand dredging and the preservation of Phnom Penh’s Bueng Ta-mouk lake, Koh Kong Province’s Koh Kong Krao Island. In September 2020, Reaksmey was arrested along with fellow activists for planning a peaceful protest to protect the lake. She was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison on charges of "incitement to cause societal chaos". Despite these legal challenges, Reaksmey remains committed to advocating for environmental sustainability and human rights in Cambodia.
Latitude: 12.486978901906042
Longitude: 103.92977054493512
6 years imprisonment
Five environmental defenders from Mother Nature Cambodia—Long Kunthea, Yim Leanghy, Thun Ratha, Phuon Keoraksmey, and Ly Chandaravuth—have spent nearly a year and a half in prison awaiting their appeal hearing. Since their July 2024 conviction by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, they have remained imprisoned and isolated, separated not only from their families but also from one another. On 2 July 2024, the five activists were convicted of "plotting," with Yim Leanghy facing an additional conviction for "lèse-majesté." They were sentenced to terms ranging from six to eight years; five other members were convicted in absentia on the same day. The Phnom Penh Appeal Court originally scheduled their hearing for 26 June 2025. However, just days before the date, the trial was postponed, reportedly due to administrative issues regarding court summons for those convicted in absentia. Throughout this period, the five bail requests have been repeatedly rejected: bail requests were denied by the Appeal Court on 17 February and 1 December 2025, and by the Supreme Court on 30 April 2025 and 2 March 2026. By the end of March 2026, no date of appeal trial has been set.
Legal aid and social assistance
Potential violations of the right to a fair trial for five Mother Nature Cambodia activists https://cchrcambodia.org/en/publications/briefing-note/potential-violations-of-the-right-to-a-fair-trial-for-five-mother-nature-cambodia-activists