A/HRC/24/32
learned about fair trial rights, how they were applied at the Extraordinary Chambers, and
heard from various guest speakers, including from the Extraordinary Chambers, which hey
also visited. During the period under review, OHCHR also organized, for the first time, in
association with the Bar Association, a legal dialogue between lawyers working at the
Extraordinary Chambers (defence lawyers and civil party lawyers) and lawyers working in
the domestic system. Lastly, OHCHR had the OHCHR rule-of-law tool on maximizing the
legacy of hybrid courts translated into Khmer and published.
IV. Support for prison reform
35.
The Prison Reform Support Programme is aimed at supporting changes in the
management of prisons and the treatment of prisoners in Cambodia, thus improving respect
for the human rights of detained persons in conflict with the law. To achieve this aim, the
Programme works closely with the General Department of Prisons of the Ministry of the
Interior and all prisons and correctional centres under its authority, as well as many other
relevant actors from other ministries (Justice, Health, and Social Affairs, Veterans and
Youth) and civil society and development partners. During the period under review,
OHCHR continued to work collaboratively with all partners and to support cooperation
between the General Department of Prisons and non-governmental organizations. Some
important improvements were made in the enjoyment of the rights of detainees.
36.
Training of prison staff is a key factor in improving respect for prisoners’ rights. The
Office continued its support for curriculum development and for building the capacity of
the trainers from the General Department of Prisons and the Centre for Professional
Training of Prison Guards of the Police Academy of Cambodia. The training of trainers
programme focusing on skills and methodology, conducted with the non-governmental
training partner VBNK since June 2011, was completed with a last series of coaching
sessions in July 2012 and a final debriefing meeting with the prison authorities in
September. The final assessments given by the trainees on the training skills acquired or
strengthened were positive. Several modules regarding, inter alia, mental health in prison,
communication with prisoners and conflict prevention in prison were also developed during
the period under review with the non-governmental psychosocial organization Transcultural
Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) Cambodia; in parallel, a series of three training of trainers
and refresher training workshops were held between July 2012 and March 2013, followed
by a pilot training course for staff from Correctional Centres Nos. 1 and 2 near Phnom
Penh. Cooperation continued with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in
Cambodia, resulting in the production of a draft curriculum on general health in prison for
non-medical prison personnel, which will now be submitted to the Ministry of Health for
review. OHCHR also facilitated the organization of the first annual meeting of the joint
training team from the General Department of Prisons and the Police Academy, which
focused on strengthening the prison curriculum, building the capacity of trainers further,
and drafting a plan of action. The Khmer version of an international handbook on a human
rights-based approach to prison management, earlier translated by OHCHR, was printed for
distribution to prison staff and prison staff trainees.
37.
OHCHR continued to enjoy unfettered access to prisons across Cambodia, and to
hold confidential interviews with prisoners in order to monitor general conditions and
treatment. In addition to following up on individual cases, requests or complaints for
protection purposes (for instance, linking up individuals with medical or legal service
providers), the monitoring approach remained focused on preventive visits, as envisaged
under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment. As such, the monitoring visits continued to feed
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