PHNOM PENH: The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, has issued a 10-point human rights agenda to improve the human rights situation in Cambodia, open up civil and political space and pave the way for democratic reform, during his first official visit to the country. 

A press conference was held at Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh at the conclusion of Professor Muntarbhorn’s visit to the Kingdom on Friday, 26 August, where he released an official statement and review of what he had observed of the human rights situation in Cambodia. The Special Rapporteur noted that the country has achieved much internationally-recognized progress and has also ratified most core human rights treaties. 

"Yet Cambodia is faced with a pervasive paradox. Since 2017, when the main opposition party was disbanded unjustly by judicial order, the country has effectively been under single-party rule, with all seats of the National Assembly in the hands of that monopoly," he said.

During his 11-day trip, the Special Rapporteur met with a variety of stakeholders, such as key persons from the government, high ranking officials, civil society organizations, UN Agencies, and concerned communities and individuals, including prisoners, women’s rights and environmental activists, representatives of farmers’ groups and youth/child groups and more.

He said an important consideration of his trip to Cambodia was to visit the field and learn directly from life experiences that would help to build his findings in the most fair and balanced manner. He visited a peaceful demonstration by NAGA World workers, met with local government officials in Sihanoukville to learn of the situation of cybercrimes and "surreptitious syndication" linked with human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, and met with communities displaced or evicted by the competition for land and flooding caused by unbalanced development.

He also met with opposition party members and independent commentators who have faced harassment or legal proceedings during his visit.

"I am pleased to have met with and learned from all those who generously shared their time, thoughts and experiences with me with characteristic Cambodian warmth,” said Professor Muntarbhorn. “This is a country with a bright future, but it faces a number of severe human rights challenges in the lead up to next year's general election."

The UN expert urged the Cambodian government to “expeditiously and responsibly” adopt a ten-point ‘Cambodian Human Rights Action Agenda’ (CHR-AA), which includes opening up civic and political space, by suspending and reforming draconian laws, ensuring election-related personnel are separated from political parties and ending prosecution of political opposition and human rights defenders. 

He also recommended releasing all those currently in prison and dropping charges against those who are seen as adversaries by the authorities and improving the quality of law enforcers by proper selection and incentivization and distance from political authority. 

On the subject of human trafficking and online scam companies, the Special Rapporteur said victims who have been duped into working for such scam operations in Cambodia are experiencing a "living hell" often resulting in torture and even death. With Cambodia's recent transformation from trafficking source to trafficking destination country, the expert proposed applying existing telecom laws and a proposed government plan to identify scams and trafficking victims in a victim-friendly manner and recommended holding participatory public inquiries.

"Countries are now waking up to the phenomenon [of trafficking to the country] and Cambodia needs to activate counter-measures more strongly, while welcoming international cooperation and support," said Professor Muntarbhorn.

The Special Rapporteur expressed gratitude to all stakeholders he met during his visit, stressing that all his meetings were friendly, engaging and deeply constructive.

Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia in March 2021. He is a Thai law Professor with longstanding experience working pro bono for the UN on human rights. Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, who are not UN staff and work on a voluntary basis. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

The UN expert’s second report on human rights in Cambodia will be released in September 2022.