A/HRC/15/47
VI.
Assistance on reporting under the treaty bodies and the
Universal Periodic Review
60.
The Office continued its comprehensive support to the Government and civil society
with reporting procedures under human rights treaties and the Universal Periodic Review of
the Human Rights Council. As part of its follow-up to the Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (CESCR) Concluding Observations of May 2009, the Office organized
a workshop in June, with the CHRC, representatives of relevant ministries, and a member
of CESCR, to seek to establish a system of focal points in key ministries to assist the
CHRC in compiling future reports and ensure effective follow-up to concluding
observations. The workshop reviewed the CESCR recommendations and agreed a workplan
for drafting a common core document and Cambodia’s next periodic report for the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). With a view to the
preparation of these two documents, the Office initiated an in-depth training course on the
ICCPR for CHRC staff and focal points from relevant Ministries. Seven one-day training
sessions are being conducted, each on a group of articles, aimed at explaining the meaning
of each article and how to report on them. This training supports the drafting by the CHRC
of Cambodia’s report under the ICCPR, expected to be submitted in 2011.
61.
In February 2010, Cambodia’s latest report was considered by the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The Office worked with the CHRC to
prepare for the session and advised it on how to respond effectively to the Committee’s list
of issues. The Government did not send an expert delegation to Geneva to engage directly
with the Committee, thus depriving itself of the full benefits of the process. In contrast,
NGOs and civil society organizations took advantage of the opportunities to highlight their
concerns. The Office supported civil society engagement, including that of indigenous
communities, with regard to the reports for both the CESCR and CERD.
62.
Reports from Cambodia are due to be considered by the Committee against Torture
in November 2010 and the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2011. While in 2008
Cambodia had fifteen overdue reports for the treaty bodies and four others pending, by May
2010, this backlog has been reduced to one – an impressive achievement to which OHCHR
contributed.
63.
In December 2009 Cambodia underwent the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
OHCHR assisted the CHRC with its preparations for this. The UPR resulted in 91
recommendations, ranging from land issues to freedom of expression, health, and children’s
and women’s rights. In March 2010, the Government announced its decision to accept all
recommendations. Cambodia is one of very few Member States to have made this
important commitment. Both the Office and the Special Rapporteur welcomed the decision
and offered support to assist in its implementation. By June, discussions were under way
between the Office, the CHRC, the British Embassy and the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency to convene a workshop aimed at developing a national
action plan for implementation of the recommendations and those of the recent treaty body
reviews (CESCR and CERD).
VII.
Education, training and public information
64.
The Office continued to produce and disseminate human rights information in both
English and Khmer, including bilingual publications of the ICCPR, the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, CERD, United Nations
commentary and guidelines on eviction and resettlement, and a supplement to the Office’s
Compilation of a Selection of Laws in Force in Cambodia. Seven of the eight core human
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