A/HRC/24/32 I. Introduction 1. The present report, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 18/25, describes the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Cambodia during the period from July 2012 to May 2013. The drafting of the present report was finalized on 23 June 2013. 2. The OHCHR presence in Cambodia, mandated by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1993/6, continued to provide assistance to the Government and to the people of Cambodia in promoting and respecting human rights in five key areas: prison reform; fundamental freedoms; land and housing rights; rule of law; and promoting the legacy of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. Work also expanded on the issue of business and human rights. 3. During the period under review, cooperation deepened with a number of key government counterparts, most notably the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior (including the General Department of Prisons) and a number of provincial governments. In addition, cooperative relations were established or renewed with other parts of government, including the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth, the Anti-Corruption Unit and the Ministry of the Environment. Government representatives at different levels expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the technical assistance OHCHR had been able to provide. Cooperation with the judiciary has expanded considerably (including with the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia) and relations with the National Assembly and Senate have strengthened. In 2012, the Office endeavoured to amplify the impact of its work by partnering more closely with other members of the United Nations country team in Cambodia. 4. The Secretary-General is confident that the High Commissioner will continue to provide assistance and support to the Government and people of Cambodia in strengthening the protection and promotion of human rights in the country, and hopes that the two-year memorandum of understanding governing technical assistance between OHCHR and the Government will be renewed beyond 31 December 2013. 5. OHCHR also continued to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, who made country visits in December 2012 and May 2013. The Secretary-General is concerned by a number of personal attacks made on the integrity of the Special Rapporteur, including by government representatives, and urges the Government and all stakeholders to cooperate with him fully in his work, as outlined by the Special Rapporteur in his report (A/HRC/24/36). 6. Cambodia’s good record in the ratification of human rights treaties was strengthened on 20 December 2012, when it ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. OHCHR was pleased to assist with the process at the national level. The Office was also able to support the Government to clear its backlog of overdue period reports to the treaty bodies, and continues to support the drafting of the next report due under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Support was also provided in follow-up to the 91 recommendations accepted by Cambodia at its initial universal periodic review, as well as preparation for the second review in early 2014. This support has also extended to civil society groups wishing to provide reports, and to general awareness-raising of the review process. The Office was joined by a number of donors in this endeavour. 7. In addition to its technical support to the Government and civil society, the Office monitored a number of individual cases related to human rights. The number and type of 3