Cambodian Senator Urges Prison Officials to Respect Inmates' Human Rights

Cambodian Senator Oung Chanthol has urged for comprehensive respect for human rights for all inmates, even those in prison, during a meeting with leaders and officials at Kampong Speu Provincial Prison. He stated that while inmates are in correctional facilities to undergo education and vocational training, their human rights must be upheld during this process. The meeting, held on the afternoon of September 17, 2026, also included representatives from the Cambodian Human Rights Committee and the Prime Minister's Volunteer Lawyer Team. Senator Oung Chanthol specifically called for attention to female inmates, pregnant women, and newborns, emphasizing the need for timely birth registration and adequate nutrition for infants. He highlighted that the Cambodian Human Rights Committee has numerous missions to promote and protect citizens' rights and freedoms. One such mission involves the Directorate General of Human Rights Investigation and Education regularly inspecting the human rights situation of inmates in prisons, providing legal and humanitarian assistance. Legal aid includes offering free lawyers and legal consultations. Humanitarian aid encompasses providing medicine and food, particularly for needy inmates, pregnant women, and mothers with young children. Efforts are also made to collaborate with suitable partner organizations to care for and educate these children. According to Tin Sovannny, Director of Kampong Speu Provincial Prison, as of September 17, 2026, the prison housed 3,455 inmates. This population includes 163 women, 6 children accompanying their mothers (2 of whom are girls), and 2 pregnant women. The primary cause for the increase in inmates is attributed to drug-related offenses, including trafficking, use, and illegal possession, accounting for approximately 2,000 of the total inmates. Director Tin Sovannny also outlined the challenges faced by the prison, such as dilapidated cells, severe overcrowding, difficulties in separating inmates based on offense types, security maintenance issues, the spread of infectious diseases, a shortage of medicine for treatment, a lack of consumables, and insufficient clothing. Furthermore, the prison lacks equipment for searching for prohibited items and adequate space for implementing rehabilitation programs for inmates.