GENEVA: The United Nations Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Cambodia, An Sokkhoeurn, responded to the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations at the 49th Session of the Human Rights Council, saying that the US should respect the autonomy of independent countries and not weaponize human rights with double standards.

The Cambodian Permanent Representative reminded the US delegation to heed UN Secretary-General António Guterres's call for human rights to not be used as a weapon if all representatives wish to uphold the highest integrity and credibility of the Human Rights Council.

He said, quoting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "Every country has the right to choose its own future and its path.”

Ambassador An Sokkhoeurn further stated that he believes the United States' use of human rights issues as a weapon of attack to serve its political agenda is well known to many delegates in the Human Rights Council.