Cautioning about the increase in cases, PM warns that HIV continues to pose a danger.

During a meeting with nearly 20,000 workers from 13 factories at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on June 24, Prime Minister Hun Sen warned of an increase of 300 new cases of HIV infections in Cambodia in 2022 compared to the previous year. The rise was found to be particularly high among men who have sex with men (MSM). In response to this, the Premier called for increased vigilance and reminded the public to use condoms, which are the most effective means of preventing transmission. He also urged factories, manufacturing enterprises, and other businesses and state institutions to not discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDS and to encourage people to protect themselves.

While Cambodia has not yet created a law allowing same-sex marriage, the country does not discriminate against same-sex relationships. The Premier emphasized that LGBT people are allowed to love each other, and that the government does not prohibit nor punish members of the LGBT community. He urged the public not to forget that HIV has yet to be eliminated, and that the virus is more dangerous than Covid-19 as there is no cure.

Lim Borin, the project coordinator for gender equality at the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR), is working to enhance LGBT rights and proposed the adoption of a law that would extend the same right to marry to same-sex couples as heterosexual ones. He stated that if LGBT couples had access to legal documents related to marital equality, they could exercise full family rights and be recognized as a family by society.

According to the National AIDS Authority (NAA), Cambodia recorded 1,400 new cases of HIV/AIDS in 2022, an increase of 300 over the previous year. The NAA aims to achieve the first 95 goal, which entails having 95 per cent of people living with HIV/AIDS aware of their status, through public education campaigns and by encouraging people to get tested regularly.

In 2021, the Kingdom was home to 74,000 people living with HIV, 62,561 of whom were receiving antiretroviral medicines, according to the Cambodia HIV Statistics factsheet released by UNAIDS.

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