human rights defender

Chea Chan

Organization affiliation

  • Cambodian Alliance of Trade Union (CATU)

HRD's year of birth

1984

HRD's Gender

Man

Type of HRD

  • Trade union leader

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Labour rights

HRD's geographical origin

Urban

Current Status

Released

HRD's bio and work

Mr. Chea Chan, born on March 15, 1984, in Pou Angkrang commune, Kampong Speu province, is currently living in Noreay village, Kampong Speu province. He is married to Ms. Chee Chanra, a vendor, and they have three children. Chan completed secondary school and has worked in various factories before joining Wing Star Shoes in 2023 as a Machine Operator. In January 2024, Chan was elected as the union leader at Wing Star Shoes, a union formed by the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Union (CATU) in late 2023. He was elected due to his hardworking, patient, dedicated, and supportive nature. Despite receiving threats and offers of incentives to quit his role, Chan remained committed to leading the union.

Detained since

Feb 14, 2024

Date of release

Aug 19, 2024

Charge(s)

  • Other

Sentence

1 year imprisonment, with 6 months suspended sentence.

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: South-eastern Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Kampong Spue

Location of detention - Facility

Kampong Spue Provincial Prison

Recent case update / evolution

Chea Chan was convicted to one year imprisonment, with six months suspended sentence.He was released on 19 August 2024 after serving his six-month prison sentence. On 22 August 2024, the Phnom Penh Appeal Court dropped the charged agaist Chea Chan.

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