Cambodian Official Hails LGBTQ+ Progress and Marriage Equality as Economic Boost

Phnom Penh, February 15, 2026 – A high-ranking Cambodian official hailed a sharp decline in social discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, presenting legal marriage equality not only as a human rights advancement but also as a strategic economic lever for the Kingdom.

Photo UN Women/Mariken Harbit

A Decisive Forum on Progress Achieved

His Excellency Keo Remy, Minister of State and President of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), highlighted these developments during a high-level forum held on February 13 at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Phnom Penh. This event concluded a landmark study titled Unlocking Potential: The Economic Benefits of Marriage Equality for Cambodia ("Libérer le potentiel : les bénéfices économiques de l’égalité matrimoniale pour le Cambodge").

The initiative, led by Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK), brought together around 160 participants, including representatives from the royal government, foreign diplomats, and civil society leaders.

In his opening speech, Mr. Keo Remy emphasized the growing empowerment of LGBTQ+ community members, who now dare to freely express their identity. He attributed these advances to a reduction in public stigma and a more inclusive political climate, forged under the impetus of former Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and continued by the current Prime Minister, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet. "This progress is not the result of chance," he affirmed. "It stems from the royal government's firm commitment to guaranteeing freedoms to all citizens, without restriction or discrimination."

The CHRC's Steadfast Commitment

Under its president's leadership, the CHRC works "with a constancy comparable to the rain that falls" to promote these rights at national and local levels, including within the prison system. These efforts are part of a broader dynamic: in October 2024, Cambodia accepted all 12 recommendations from the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) regarding LGBTQ+ rights, seven of which specifically address legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

Concrete Economic Benefits in Sight

At the heart of the discussions were the tangible national benefits of legalizing same-sex marriage. According to H.E. Keo Remy, such a measure would go beyond social dignity: it would stimulate domestic and foreign investments, simplify property and adoption issues, enhance Cambodia's international stature, and lighten the burden on the judicial system by clarifying family law.

These arguments echo prior analyses, such as those by UN expert Victor Madrigal-Borloz in 2023, who highlighted the potential for full integration of LGBT people into Cambodian society.

A Call for Unity and Collective Responsibility

Reaffirming the CHRC's "unwavering commitment," the minister promised that the royal government would not leave the LGBTQ+ community behind. He explicitly supported the development of legislation to recognize same-sex marriage, while urging those concerned to behave as "good citizens" respectful of the laws, in order to break persistent stereotypes. His speech concluded with a vibrant call to media, artists, and social media influencers to amplify visibility and equality across the country.

This forum comes amid Cambodia's ongoing reforms, despite persistent criticisms from organizations like Human Rights Watch on other human rights aspects. Marriage equality could thus become a symbol of modernity for the Kingdom, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals advocating to "leave no one behind."