COUNCIL HOLDS INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON CAMBODIA

The Human Rights Council this afternoon held an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.

The Special Rapporteur, Surya Prasad Subedi, presenting his report, said Cambodia had made noteworthy progress in protecting and promoting human rights, including enacting some major laws in the recent past. The Government was more engaged with United Nations human rights institutions, had accepted all recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review, and was reportedly on course towards achieving some Millennium Development Goals. However, Cambodia remained a complex country as democratisation had not yet fully taken root in society. Major areas of concern related to land access, housing rights, freedom of expression and the numerous challenges faced by the judiciary. The judiciary had a pivotal role to play in the protection and promotion of human rights in any country, and Cambodia was no exception. The Government should also push forward with its legal and judicial reform agenda and establish a programme of action with a clear timetable to implement the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur.

Speaking as a concerned country, Cambodia welcomed the report of the Special Rapporteur and commended the constructive approach he took to cooperate with the Government. Cambodia took note of certain concerns and challenges addressed in the report but believed that there were some facts inconsistent with the Government’s views. On the issue of legal and judicial reform, the Government had accelerated the legislative process and had undertaken measures to strengthen the system of justice in the country. In particular, four new major laws had had a direct impact on the human rights of Cambodian citizens, namely the Penal Code, the Law on Peaceful Demonstrations, the Law on Expropriation and the Anti-corruption law. Furthermore, capacity building remained one of the top priorities of the Government with respect to the reform process, especially in the national judiciary. Cambodia mentioned a number of areas in which it had made significant progress and concluded by saying that it had taken note of the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur and the long term objectives for the advancement of human rights in Cambodia.

During the interactive dialogue speakers said, among other things, that Cambodia had made progress on the laws concerning land issues and regarding the Khmer Rouge tribunal. Delegations welcomed Cambodia’s acceptance of all 91 recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review and looked forward to a programme of implementation. On the other hand, issues remained regarding judicial independence, ongoing forced displacements, evictions, and land disputes, as well as freedom of speech and the judiciary, which still needed improvements, particularly in the area of the independence of judges. A speaker lamented a lack of meaningful dialogue between the Government and civil society while another drew attention to convictions on charges of disinformation as well as arbitrary detentions. There were also reports of Government critics being prosecuted for criminal defamation and of authorities continuing to forcibly disperse peaceful demonstrations. Several countries encouraged the international community to provide assistance to Cambodia.

Countries speaking in the general debate were Japan, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, United Kingdom, Thailand, Algeria, Sweden, Indonesia, Ireland, Nepal, China, Viet Nam, Philippines, Malaysia, Canada, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, United States, Myanmar, and Switzerland.

Also speaking were the following non-governmental organizations: Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

The next meeting of the Council will be at 9 a.m. on Wednesday 29 September, when it will hold a stand-alone interactive dialogue on Somalia, to be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on Somalia.

Document

The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya Prasad Subedi, (A/HRC/15/46), notes that human rights violations are still taking place in a number of areas. The major areas of concern are those relating to access to land and housing rights, freedom of expression, and the numerous challenges faced by the judiciary. These issues continue to dominate the legal and political landscape. The Special Rapporteur is also concerned about the narrowing of political space.

Presentation by Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia

SURYA PRASAD SUBEDI, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia, said his statement covered the period of the last twelve months, and was based primarily on the information that he obtained during his two missions to the country, information received from various independent and credible sources, and the communications received from the Government. The approach he had taken to deliver his mandate had been a constructive one, and he had received a good level of cooperation from the Government in implementing his mandate. Cambodia had made some noteworthy progress in protecting and promoting human rights, including enacting some major laws to this effect in the recent past. The Government was more engaged with the United Nations human rights institutions, and had accepted all of the recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review of the country in December 2009. Cambodia was reported to be one of the countries on course towards achieving some of the targets outlined in the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, especially in poverty reduction, education, gender equality, nutrition and water access.

However, Cambodia remained a complex country in terms of the protection and promotion of human rights, as democratisation had not yet fully taken root in society. The major areas of concern were those relating to access to land and housing rights, freedom of expression, and the numerous challenges faced by the judiciary. These issues continued to dominate the legal and political landscape. Cambodia had established institutions to protect and promote human rights, but violations of human rights continued to take place. The judiciary had a pivotal role to play in the protection and promotion of human rights in any country, and Cambodia was no exception. The independence of the judiciary was a hallmark of a properly functioning democracy. During his missions, the Special Rapporteur had identified a number of shortcomings in the functioning of the judiciary in Cambodia. Another area of concern was the enjoyment of freedom of expression by the people in Cambodia; there had been a disproportionate use of the law regarding defamation and disinformation against journalists, human rights activists, and political leaders. There was also a lack of any effective mechanism for regular dialogue between the Government and civil society actors. In conclusion, the Government had made good progress in protecting and promoting human rights in the country, but still had a long way to go to meet international benchmarks in this regard; it should push forward with its legal and judicial reform agenda by building on the accomplishments already made in protecting and promoting human rights in the country, and establish a programme of action with a clear timetable to implement the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur.

Statement by Concerned Country

SUN SUON (Cambodia), speaking as a concerned country, said that Cambodia welcomed the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia and commended the constructive approach he took to cooperate with the Government in the promotion and protection of human rights in Cambodia. Cambodia took note of certain concerns and challenges addressed in the report but believed that there were some facts inconsistent with the Government’s views. On the issue of legal and judicial reform, the Government had accelerated the legislative process and had undertaken measures to strengthen the system of justice in the country. In particular, four new major laws had had a direct impact on the human rights of Cambodian citizens, namely the Penal Code, the Law on Peaceful Demonstrations, the Law on Expropriation and the Anti-corruption law. Furthermore, capacity building remained one of the top priorities of the Government with respect to the reform process, especially in the national judiciary. Cambodia mentioned a number of areas in which it had made significant progress and concluded by saying that it had taken note of the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur and the long term objectives for the advancement of human rights in Cambodia.

Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia

KENICHI SUGANUMA (Japan) said Japan appreciated the efforts by the Special Rapporteur to build a relationship of mutual trust and understanding with the Government of Cambodia and to develop channels for high-level dialogue. Japan would like to see the mandate of the Special Rapporteur extended so that he could continue his excellent work. Japan concurred with the Special Rapporteur that Cambodia had made significant progress in terms of the promotion and protection of human rights, including the adoption of the Penal Code and the promulgation of the Anti-Corruption Law. In addition, positive progress had been made on the laws concerning land issues, including through the enactment of the Law on Expropriation. Regarding the Khmer Rouge tribunal, Japan welcomed the delivery of a verdict on the trial of case 001 and the judicial process concerning this case. On the other hand, there remained issues regarding judicial independence and Japan hoped to see further efforts by Cambodia in this regards. Japan further welcomed Cambodia’s acceptance of all 91 recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review last year, which was a clear signal of the strong political will on the part of the Government. To support Cambodian efforts, Japan has assisted in drafting the Civil Code and the Civil Procedural Code. Turning to the Special Rapporteur, Japan asked about his views on the methods and frameworks which the international community could use to assist Cambodia in developing and implementing a programme of action with a clear time table for the implementation of the recommendations.

SALLY DAWKINS (Australia) said Australia strongly supported the Special Rapporteur's focus on the rule of law, particularly independence of the judiciary. A capable and functioning law and justice system which included equality before the law was essential to Cambodia's successful post-conflict transition. The Government should be congratulated on its rule of law progress, including implementation of the Penal Code and the Anti-Corruption Law. The current resolution on advisory services and technical assistance for Cambodia highlighted ongoing Cambodian human rights challenges. Australia remained particularly concerned about ongoing forced displacements, evictions, and land disputes which had a particular impact on impoverished and indigenous communities. Freedom of speech continued to be restricted, and disinformation remained a criminal offence. There should be greater restraint in recourse to legal proceedings on matters that might reasonably be considered an exercise of the right to free expression. The Government and the Special Rapporteur should continue to consult closely in the interests of improving the human rights situation in Cambodia - the Special Procedures' mandate on Cambodia, and particularly the role of the Special Rapporteur, were important methods for working constructively with Cambodia on human rights issues.

JOELLE HIVONNET (European Union) welcomed the Government of Cambodia’s commitment to implement all of the recommendations made to it in the Universal Periodic Review. The European Union asked the Special Rapporteur if he could report on progress made in terms of implementation and outline priority issues that still needed to be addressed. In his report, the Special Rapporteur focused on challenges for the judiciary, in particular in relation to protection, security of tenure and independence. The European Union asked the Special Rapporteur to comment further on how key elements of a Law on the Status of Judges and Prosecutors could assist in this regard, and what the prospects were for early enactment. The report also noted a lack of regular and constructive dialogue between the Government and civil society organizations and the European Union asked if the Special Rapporteur could elaborate further on how to foster this dialogue in the promotion and protection of human rights. The European Union also asked for the Special Rapporteur’s comment on the need to respect the right to freedom of expression in Cambodia, notably to allow open and free political debate.

TAN YORK CHOR (Singapore) said Singapore recognised Cambodia’s ongoing dialogue and cooperation with various donor countries, United Nations agencies, international financial institutions and organizations to implement public sectoral reforms. In the wake of the global economic downturn, Singapore noted Cambodia’s ongoing efforts to mitigate its socio-economic impact on the people and address their livelihood needs. Cambodia had also made some significant progress in the areas of infrastructural development, healthcare, education, and rural development. It was encouraging to see Cambodia being presented with the Millennium Development Goals Award for its efforts and progress made towards combating HIV, malaria and other diseases. With strong national leadership, Singapore was confident that Cambodia would continue with its institutional reforms. On its part, Singapore was committed to continue cooperating with Cambodia on a bilateral basis and with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to further its development. In that regard, Singapore would continue sharing its best practices and developmental experiences with Cambodia through public sector training programmes.

CIRO LEAL M. DA CUNHA (Brazil) said Brazil acknowledged the efforts made by the Government of Cambodia in institutionalising a human rights culture and commended it for its cooperation with the Special Procedures and its participation in the Universal Periodic Review. Brazil placed the highest importance on strengthening cooperation in the Human Rights Council. The Council must be able to provide technical assistance and capacity building for countries that had the political will but lacked some of the resources to face their existing challenges. The experience with the Universal Periodic Review showed that many countries were forthcoming and could use the assistance of the Council. Brazil was ready to contribute to strengthen the cooperation component of the Council. Special Procedures should be granted a strengthened and more proactive mandate in the pursuit of increased cooperation with concerned Governments. They could play a key role in designing country strategies and in facilitating technical assistance with relevant actors. The Council must ensure that countries treated under agenda item 10 received effective technical assistance and capacity building and Brazil was ready to engage constructively in discussions in this regard.

PHILIP TISSOT (United Kingdom) said that the United Kingdom strongly supported the ongoing work of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Cambodia and welcomed the Government’s continued cooperation with him. The United Kingdom noted progress made on human rights in Cambodia as captured by the Special Rapporteur’s report. In particular, the United Kingdom welcomed acceptance of all Universal Periodic Review recommendations and looked forward to a programme of implementation. The United Kingdom also supported the Special Rapporteur’s observations that there was scope to decriminalize defamation and disinformation. Issues such as criticism of Government policy were best settled through political debate rather than the courts.

VIJAVAT ISARABHAKDI (Thailand) said the commitment of Cambodia was clearly reflected in various concrete actions which the Government had undertaken, including the close collaboration that Cambodia had extended to the Special Rapporteur and the Government’s openness in acceptance of all Universal Periodic Review recommendations. Any assessment of Cambodia’s progress in human rights must bear in mind Cambodia’s historical struggle and how far the country had advanced to overcome its many challenges. Thailand encouraged Cambodia to carry forward its constructive cooperation and engagement with the Council and the Special Rapporteur. Such cooperation should also continue to address the country’s needs in enhancing its capacity to respond to challenges. Thailand also appreciated Cambodia’s efforts to modernise its legal and judiciary frameworks, aimed at fostering good governance, and hoped to see this good work continue. In closing, Thailand appreciated the political will and commitment of the Government of Cambodia to promote and protect the human rights of its people. Thailand looked forward to working in close partnership with a view to transforming the Association of Southeast Asian Nations into a “community of peoples” where all peoples of the region had equitable access to human development opportunities.

IDRISS JAZAIRY (Algeria) commended the Special Rapporteur for his cooperative approach to Cambodia which had shown results. The engagement of Cambodia in the Universal Periodic Review and its acceptance of the majority recommendations made was another clear signal of the willingness of this country to uphold and improve the human rights situation for its citizens. Algeria was encouraged by the political stability and economic development of Cambodia. The judiciary, which should be the first protection from the atrocities of the past, still needed improvements, particularly in the area of the independence of judges. Algeria therefore favoured the technical assistance mandate for this country.

IRINA SCHOULGIN NYONI (Sweden) thanked the Special Rapporteur for his excellent report and the inclusive approach with which he carried out his mandate. Sweden joined the Special Rapporteur in welcoming a number of the reforms that had been instigated by the Cambodian Government to strengthen the judiciary. Sweden was also pleased to read of the responsiveness with which the Government of Cambodia had addressed the ideas and recommendations put forth in the report. Sweden also noted with concern how ordinary people in Cambodia were fearful or courts, partly because of corruption. In closing, Sweden said that land rights, and the absence thereof, affected many of the most vulnerable people in that society.

DICKY KOMAR (Indonesia) said the enactment of new laws, as well as the incipient reform to make the judiciary more independent and accountable were important steps in setting Cambodia firmly on the road to democracy. The current developments in Cambodia therefore showed a positive spirit, as did the Government’s desire to establish an open and frank dialogue with the Special Rapporteur and other human rights mechanisms. Indonesia had no doubt that Cambodia could achieve its goals if it continued to work with the Council and its Special Procedures. Indonesia also encouraged Cambodia to continue strengthening its ties with its partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and to play its full part in building up the Association’s regional human rights mechanism, in parallel with its pursuit of human rights reform at home. Indonesia encouraged Cambodia to seek the support of human rights institutions and draw on experiences and good practices of other countries in implementing its own human rights programme.

MICHEAL TIERNEY (Ireland) said that legitimate political activity and an active civil society and engaged media were integral to development of a sustainable democracy. Ireland noted that the Special Rapporteur engaged with a broad range of civil society actors during his mission in January 2010 and wanted to hear more on how the Cambodian national laws on freedom of association and assembly impacted the work of civil society in Cambodia. Ireland also wanted to hear what kind of impact the in-country role of the Special Rapporteur had on the broader goal of improving the level of dialogue between civil society organizations and the Cambodian Government itself. Regarding the independence of the judiciary, Ireland asked the Special Rapporteur to comment on how the absence of the law on the status of judges and prosecutors guaranteeing their security of tenure and independence affected the administration of justice in Cambodia.

BHRIGU DHUNGANA (Nepal) said that Nepal appreciated the objective approach and constructive attitude that seemed to be reflected in the report of the Special Rapporteur. His report recognized good practices but also pointed out the areas that needed further improvements. Through the understanding of the country’s tortured past, the report was able to produce a balanced and fair assessment of the present-day challenges and difficulties in Cambodia. It was heartening that Cambodia was making progress on political as well as socio-economic fronts. The reforms in the judiciary, justice system and legal framework were also noteworthy. Finally, Nepal said that it appreciated Cambodia’s active engagement and constructive cooperation with the United Nations human rights mechanisms and wished Cambodia all the best in its work towards political reconciliation and national unity.

GIU YING YING (China) said China appreciated the great amount of work the Special Rapporteur had done. The Special Rapporteur had pointed out that Cambodia had made noteworthy progress in promoting and protecting human rights. China was pleased to note that Cambodia had enacted major laws in many areas. Cambodia had smoothly passed the Universal Periodic Review and accepted all recommendations made during the review, showing the great importance Cambodia attached to human rights. China fully understood the challenges faced by Cambodia as a developing country and called on the international community to provide more assistance to Cambodia on the basis of strengthened consultation with the Cambodian Government. China hoped that assistance with Cambodia would pay attention to avoiding interference with its internal affairs. China also hoped that the Special Rapporteur would continue cooperation with Cambodia in accordance with his mandate.

VU ANH QUANG (Viet Nam) said Viet Nam highly valued the great efforts made by Cambodia to ensure political stability and economic growth over the past years, and the progress made to protect and promote human rights for its people, particularly economic, social and cultural rights. There had been many achievements in ensuring the rule of law and implementing the Millennium Development Goals such as poverty reduction, education and access to health. It was worth recalling the promulgation of the new Penal Code and the law on peaceful demonstrations. Viet Nam commended the full cooperation of Cambodia with the international community and the United Nations human rights system and took note of its seriousness and openness in addressing human rights issues. Viet Nam joined with other speakers in encouraging the international community to continue to provide financial and technical assistance to help Cambodia overcome its difficulties and challenges.

EVAN P. GARCIA (Philippines) commended the Royal Government of Cambodia for the steady progress it had been making to further strengthen the promotion, protection and enjoyment of all human rights in the country. The Philippines also congratulated the Government of Cambodia for its successful participation in the Universal Periodic Review and for its acceptance of all recommendations emanating there from. Finally, despite these overwhelmingly positive measures and sustained cooperation with the international community on human rights since 1993, the Philippines urged the Government of Cambodia to accelerate the measures it was already undertaking or had already committed itself to undertake in good faith.

SITI HAJJAR ADNIN (Malaysia) said Malaysia noted with encouragement the progress made in the promotion and protection of human rights in Cambodia, notably the Government’s effort to strengthen the legal and institutional framework and its measures to foster a culture of pluralism and tolerance in the country. Malaysia was also pleased with Cambodia’s openness and willingness to engage with United Nations mechanisms and other international organizations to find durable solutions to the human rights challenges in the country. Malaysia hoped that the international community would continue supporting Cambodia through constructive engagement and the provision of technical assistance. It also encouraged Cambodia to continue strengthening measures to bring about more tangible reform and involvement building on the accomplishments already made in promoting and protecting human rights in the country.

ANNE TAMARA LORRE (Canada) said Canada would like to see cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and Cambodia continue and in fact become more intense. Therefore, Canada would support the renewal of this mandate. Canada noted the real willingness of the Government to install good governance, democracy and respect for human rights. The adoption by Cambodia of almost all recommendations arising from the Universal Periodic Review process was encouraging. Canada was concerned that some actions by the Government were leading to limitations on the rights of its citizens, in particular the members of the opposition and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The lack of the independence of the judiciary was another concern. Canada asked what the international community could do to support Cambodia in increasing the independence of it judiciary, and to support the training of its judges. Also, Canada wanted to know how the lessons learned from the Khmer Rouge trials translated into the Cambodian judiciary system.

YONG CHANTHALANGSY (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) thanked the Special Rapporteur for his presentation on the human rights situation in Cambodia. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic welcomed the continued effort of the Government of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights and took note of the significant progress and achievements made by the Cambodian Government in promoting judicial and legal reforms. In summary, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic encouraged the international community to continue helping the Government of Cambodia in its efforts to strengthen democracy and ensure human rights for all its citizens.

CARLTON E. FORBES (United States) said the United States lamented the lack of meaningful dialogue between the Government of Cambodia and civil society on the promotion and protection of human rights. On land reform issues, the United States hoped that the Government and stakeholders would work in good faith to resolve these issues. Freedom of expression was vital to a functioning democracy. Yet the report of the Special Rapporteur noted a disturbing trend in which the laws on defamation and disinformation had been used selectively against journalists and political activists. Was there something the international community could do to assist Cambodia in adhering to international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its own domestic laws, the United States asked the Special Rapporteur. Also, did the Special Rapporteur have any indication from the Government regarding his suggestions on judicial reform, the United States asked, also asking what would be the strategy of the Special Rapporteur in going forward to address this issue.

KYAW MYO HTUT (Myanmar) said that Myanmar appreciated the efforts by the Government of Cambodia, especially its cooperation with the United Nations human rights system. This was evidenced by the close cooperation with the Special Rapporteur including the acceptance of a number of visits to Cambodia and the implementation of internal reform, particularly legal reform to address land issues, build free society and strengthen the rule of law. Myanmar maintained the view that cooperation and mutual respect were essential elements for the success of any country mandate and if the international community wanted to see a realistic outcome of the established objective of the relevant mandates, it needed to respect the views of the country concerned and to ensure encouragement for meaningful participation in the process rather than putting up unilateral pressures. Myanmar encouraged the international community to continue its support for Cambodia.

MICHAEL MEIER (Switzerland) recognized the improvements made by Cambodia in the last few decades but also pointed out that a number of important challenges still existed. The report reflected Switzerland’s concerns on forced expulsions. Moreover, corruption continued to be a major obstacle in the development process of Cambodia and the independence of the judiciary was also of grave concern. Switzerland urged the Special Rapporteur to closely monitor the implementation of the recommendations made in the report and the Universal Periodic Review. In conclusion, Switzerland reiterated that it firmly believed that the situation of human rights in Cambodia was an important topic of discussion and Switzerland therefore called on Member States of the Council to renew the Special Rapporteur’s mandate.

GIYOUN KIM, of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, drew attention to the recent conviction of three Cambodians on disinformation charges. The cases had been characterised by deep procedural flaws, including arbitrary detention as well as failure to provide in-court witness testimonies. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development would be interested in hearing the Special Rapporteur’s initial views on the measures to be taken in order to enhance the role of parliamentarians in ensuring meaningful debate and participatory methods when introducing and adopting legislation.

PHILIPPE DAM, of Human Rights Watch, said since 2009 more than 10 critics of the Government had been prosecuted for criminal defamation and disinformation based on complaints by the Government and military officials. Authorities continued to forcibly and often violently disperse peaceful demonstrations, and workers who went on strike for better wages and working conditions were subject to harassment, physical attacks and unfair dismissal. Human Rights Watch also highlighted the need for the Government to pay serious attention to the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur, particularly regarding freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

The Representative of Amnesty International, said that the report of the Special Rapporteur highlighted the judiciary, land and housing rights and freedom of expression as areas of most concern. The report described the many challenges to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and Amnesty International agreed with the Special Rapporteur that the courts were not trusted by the Cambodians to ensure impartial justice. The rich and powerful continued to abuse the criminal justice system to silence the people protesting against forced evictions and land grabs, which mostly affected the communities living in poverty. Amnesty International also highlighted the disregard for the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, in particular for journalists, human rights activists and opposition politicians. Currently union leaders were facing possible legal action for carrying out their legitimate work in organizing a mass strike over pay for garment factory workers. Amnesty International asked the Special Rapporteur what were the most urgent and important steps for the Government to take in ending the long-standing impunity for human rights violations in Cambodia.


Concluding Remarks

SURYA PRASAD SUBEDI, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia, in his concluding remarks, thanked the comments and expressions of support made by the distinguished delegates. The Special Rapporteur had written a letter to the Prime Minister on measures taken to decriminalize defamation. The Prime Minister’s office had written back stating that they would like to work closely with the Special Rapporteur on how to implement these changes. The Special Rapporteur said that his work did not end with simply making recommendations and he aimed to work closely with the Government of Cambodia to make sure that these recommendations, along with those made in the Universal Periodic Review, were implemented as quickly as possible.

With regard to his priority areas, the Special Rapporteur said that he wanted to address the issues of freedom of expression as well as the independence of the judiciary. Members of the Cambodian system of justice, including judges and prosecutors, needed to receive additional training on human rights. For this to be realized, however, the international community needed to provide the Government of Cambodia with more technical and financial assistance. The law on the status of judges was one of the Special Rapporteur’s main recommendations. The Special Rapporteur reaffirmed that the empowerment of the judiciary was of critical importance. With regard to the cooperation between the Government and civil society, the Special Rapporteur said that he was in contact with a number of non-governmental organizations on the ground and was trying to encourage an improvement in their relationship and to forge a meaningful dialogue between civil society organizations and the Government. In closing, the Special Rapporteur said that with support from the Council and the international community, long-term progress could be made in Cambodia.


For use of the information media; not an official record

HRC10/114E