Cambodia, UN Special Rapporteur Reaffirm Commitment to Constructive Human Rights Dialogue

Cambodia and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining open dialogue and strengthening cooperation on the promotion and protection of human rights following the Special Rapporteur’s first official mission to the Kingdom. The commitment was made during a meeting between H.E. Eat Sophea, Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Mr. Thomas Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, held in Phnom Penh late last week. According to a press release issued this morning by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the two sides reviewed the outcome of the Special Rapporteur’s meetings with Cambodian leaders and relevant stakeholders, as well as his visits to several locations across the country, including border communities displaced by the recent Cambodia-Thailand conflict. H.E. Eat Sophea expressed appreciation for the Special Rapporteur’s comprehensive and balanced assessment of the human rights situation in Cambodia, including his observations during visits to displaced border communities. She also recalled Cambodia’s recovery from decades of civil war and genocide, highlighting the country’s socio-economic transformation since the restoration of full peace in 1998. She stressed that the Royal Government remains equally committed to advancing civil and political rights alongside economic, social and cultural rights as mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development. The Permanent Secretary of State further noted Cambodia’s long-standing engagement with the United Nations human rights system, pointing out that the Kingdom remains the only country in Asia hosting a stand-alone Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which has operated in Cambodia since 1993. She added that Cambodia has worked constructively with eight successive UN Special Rapporteurs, reflecting its commitment to openness and meaningful engagement with UN human rights mechanisms. The meeting also covered a wide range of issues, including freedom of expression, economic and financial inclusion, gender equality and women’s empowerment, prison and detention centre overcrowding, and efforts to improve access to justice. Mr. Andrews thanked the Royal Government for facilitating his mission from July 20 to 31, which enabled him to meet senior officials and a broad range of stakeholders, conduct field visits to Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey provinces, inspect detention centres, and observe conditions affecting displaced border communities. He expressed hope for a swift resolution that would allow displaced families to return safely and with dignity to their homes and livelihoods in accordance with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand. While encouraging continued efforts to address remaining challenges, Mr. Andrews acknowledged Cambodia’s cooperation and commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. He noted that Cambodia has ratified eight of the nine core international human rights treaties and has accepted approximately 84 percent of the recommendations made under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). He also reaffirmed the Human Rights Council’s readiness to continue providing technical assistance to support the implementation of those recommendations. The meeting concluded in a constructive and cordial atmosphere, with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to maintaining open dialogue, enhancing technical cooperation, and continuing to work together to advance human rights in Cambodia. By C. Nika