The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations Office in Geneva has highlighted the Kingdom’s achievement and progress in human rights at the fifty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council which has been concluded after having hosted 57 meetings and adopted 34 texts on thematic and country-specific issues.
According to a press release of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations Office in Geneva issued on April 8, during the six-week interaction from Feb. 26 to April 5, 2024, the Permanent Mission delivered 11 statements.
These featured Cambodia’s normative and practical achievements and progress in all categories of human rights-civil, political, social, economic and cultural, including the right to development. The delegation of Cambodia also contributed to the debates on the improvement of the working methods of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Council and consideration of human rights situations in one country.
Be
low are highlights from Cambodia’s statements:
Peace is an enabling right, preconditioning the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights-and realisation of sustainable development. After three decades of civil war, Cambodia places utmost importance on peace. We support the notion that peace is the highest and most noble aspiration of humankind, which must be ardently cherished.
In the current global context, Cambodia accentuates the critical need for peaceful dialogue and urges avoidance of actions that could trigger severe humanitarian crises. Armed conflicts must end to preserve dignity and humanity for all. International cooperation and mutual trust among states must be strengthened while robust international enforcement mechanisms must be ensured. As the preamble of the UN Charter stipulates, we must ‘unite our strength to maintain international peace and security.’
Human rights and development cannot be sustained where peace is under threat or fragile. As such, Cambodia h
as committed itself to promoting peace and security worldwide. It has dispatched 9,281 peacekeepers-including 762 women-to UN missions, protecting civilian lives in nine countries and maintaining peace and security in conflict areas.
With enduring peace and stability, Cambodia’s annual growth averaged 7 percent between 2005 and 2019. Poverty fell from 50 percent to 9 percent over the same period. Consequently, Cambodia transitioned from low-income to lower-middle-income status. We are encouraged by a national review showing that most of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals-along with our 18th goal of mine clearance-are on track, despite global economic uncertainties.
Cambodia’s participation in the past three Universal Periodic Review cycles have contributed to strengthening of national human rights protection systems and realizing the Sustainable Development Goals on many fronts. These included the final draft Law on the Establishment of National Human Rights Institution, poverty reduction, better health
care coverage, promotion and protection of the rights of vulnerable and indigenous people, judicial reform, combating corruption and human trafficking and enhanced civil and political rights.
To ensure inclusiveness of minorities and their full equal rights of access to social services and development gains, Cambodia has implemented wide-ranging policies and mechanisms. Among them are the National Policy on Development of Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous Communal Land Registration and Land Allocation for Social and Economic Development 2020-2026. As of 2022, the Cambodian government had registered around 40,000 hectares of land to 38 indigenous communities.
Cambodia remains steadfast in its commitment to human rights principles, including the right to adequate housing. To benefit indigenous peoples, a ‘National Policy on the Development of Indigenous Peoples’ has been formulated. Policy priorities include identity recognition, legal entity status for communities, and protection of their residential, cultivat
ed and cultural lands. For indigenous relocations, policies involve developing new villages with adequate infrastructure and providing houses, land ownership and basic needs. The government ensures adherence to traditions by offering forest land, non-timber forest products, cemeteries and places of worship.
Cambodia has implemented extensive policies at both national and sub-national levels to improve services for people with disabilities. Initiatives include the National Strategic Plan on Disability 2019-2023 and the National Social Protection Policy Framework (2016-2025). These aim to provide access to health cares, education, vocational training and other benefits. In mid-2024, the government is expected to approve a National Disability Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2028. In addition, a Comprehensive National Work Plan is targeting increased access to assistive technology by 2025, including prosthetics, wheelchairs and glasses, demonstrating Cambodia’s dedication to improving health care for people with dis
abilities.
As a state party to the Convention against Torture (CAT) and its Optional Protocol, Cambodia does not condone any form of torture or ill-treatment against any individual. To guarantee justice and lessen sentencing cases, the Judicial Reform Steering Committee and National Authority for Out-of-Court Dispute Resolution have been established this year. Moreover, pro-bono legal aid has been increased to defend the rights of the accused and pre-trial detainees so they can access legal protection in line with the law. National policy on legal aid is also underway.
Cambodia recognises and firmly respects the right to privacy as a core element of an individual’s life which is protected through our Constitution and a set of laws and regulations. These include the Sub-Decree on Management, Usage and Security Protection of Personal Data. In addition, a Grievance Redress Mechanism has been established for those who wish to submit complaints about personal data being violated.
Cambodia is lauded for its i
nterfaith tolerance and religious harmony due to the government’s positive and inclusive approach to all religions and races. It remains committed to maintaining national unity and harmony among all ethnic groups as the groundwork for realising the Sustainable Development Goals.
Peaceful protest is integral to the enjoyment of the rights to freedom of participation in public affairs and of peaceful assembly as guaranteed by the Constitution and relevant legal instruments. The Law on Peaceful Assembly requires relevant authorities to exercise utmost restraint and take appropriate measures to protect people, by ensuring the security, safety and public order and not interfering with peaceful demonstrations. Equally important, a meaningful participation in democratic and rules-based societies prevails when individuals-regardless of their status and affiliation-exercise their rights and freedoms with accountability within the remit of the law as prescribed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rig
hts.
We join the long-standing call by many delegations for the OHCHR to work with the consent of the countries concerned and genuine cooperation, in a fair and depoliticised manner, guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, transparency, objectivity, non-selectivity and no double standard. Its work must treat all categories of human rights in a fair and equal manner on the same footing, with the same emphasis.
The Universal Periodic Review must remain an intergovernmental, state-driven and action-oriented process. It must be exercised in an objective, transparent, constructive, and cooperative manner. Cambodia is ready to engage in the forthcoming constructive dialogues during consideration of the fourth cycle of the review report.
Effective technical assistance and cooperation programmes must always be demand-driven in consultation with and with the full consent of the states in line with national priorities and the accepted Universal Periodic Review recommendations. The primacy of the r
ole of the state as the human rights duty bearer should be respected in this process.
Cambodia remains resolute in working with all stakeholders to further promote and protect human rights within the remit of the rule of law and accountable institutions.
During the fifty-fifth session, Cambodia signed up multiple joint statements on topics ranging from women’s rights, artificial intelligence, the right to food, and the right to social security and public services to UN meeting modality, human rights bodies and mechanisms, technical assistance and capacity-building.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse