Phnom Penh, June 21, 2024: Cambodia has announced its support alongside France for the Joint Statement on the Universal Cessation of Homosexual Punishment, set to be issued during the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 20, 2024.

This collaboration was confirmed in a press release by the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CCHR) this Thursday. The statement was initiated by French Ambassador Jean-Marc Berthon, who facilitated discussions with the Cambodian Human Rights Committee alongside Jacques Pellet, the French Ambassador to Cambodia.

The CCHR expressed its solidarity with the LGBT community across Cambodia and acknowledged the compassion shown by Hun Sen, former Prime Minister and President of the Senate, and Hun Manet, the current Prime Minister. They highlighted the consistent reminders from leadership not to discriminate against LGBT individuals and noted that Cambodian law does not criminalize homosexuality.

Joining France in this declaration underscores Cambodia's commitment to respecting, promoting, and protecting the human rights of homosexuals, both domestically and internationally. The CCHR emphasized that this endorsement reflects Cambodia’s dedication to a society where all individuals can coexist harmoniously and without discrimination, underpinned by peace and development.