A/HRC/27/70
I. Introduction
1.
Since the maximum term of a Special Rapporteur is six years, and the current
Special Rapporteur’s term is now in its sixth year, the present report is the last he will
submit to the Human Rights Council in his present function. He thanks warmly the
Government of Cambodia, the leaders of both the ruling and the opposition party, members
of civil society, the United Nations country team in Cambodia, and the Geneva and
Cambodia Offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights which have
facilitated and supported his work. He also wishes to thank the Council for placing its trust
and confidence in him by appointing him to the position in March 2009 and for renewing
his appointment annually and for an unprecedented term of two years on two occasions
which provided him the stability needed to concentrate on a more strategic approach to the
protection and promotion of human rights in Cambodia. The present, final report will partly
take stock of the progression of his work, provide an update on the situation covering the
developments of the past 12 months and offer recommendations for the future.
2.
The present report is the sixth report of the present Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in Cambodia submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council
resolution 24/29 of 27 September 2013, requesting him to report on the implementation of
his mandate.
3.
During the year under review, the Special Rapporteur continued to monitor the
situation of human rights in Cambodia. He continued to receive information on the situation
of human rights from different stakeholders in Cambodia, including the Government, the
opposition political parties, civil society organizations and citizens, some of whom sought
the help of the Special Rapporteur in addressing alleged violations of human rights in the
country. He conducted two visits during the review period — one in January 2014 and the
other in June 2014. The Government resumed its regular mode of cooperation with the
Special Rapporteur, enabling him to meet with a broad range of actors within the
Government.
4.
In January 2014, the Special Rapporteur met with Prime Minister Hun Sen, in the
presence of many other senior ministers. He also interacted with other stakeholders in
Cambodia, including the leaders of the opposition party, ordinary citizens, groups of youths
and students, representatives of civil society organizations and members of the international
community, including development partners and the United Nations country team. At the
outset, the Special Rapporteur wishes to express his appreciation to the Government of
Cambodia for the positive and constructive cooperation extended to him during his
missions. The dialogue he had with the Prime Minister was frank, cordial and informative.
As the Special Rapporteur has emphasized in the past, in the delivery of his mandate as
entrusted to him by the Council, it is crucial that he be able to have a meaningful dialogue
with all actors in the Cambodian society, particularly with the Government. The Prime
Minister sent an important signal to the international community by constructively
engaging with the Special Rapporteur that he was ready and willing to seriously address the
human rights issues in the country.
5.
During his mission in June 2014, the Special Rapporteur met with Sar Kheng,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Om Yentieng, Senior Minister and
Chair of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, Im Chhun Lim, Senior Minister and
Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Ith Sam Heng, Minister
of Labour and Vocational Training, senior members of the judiciary and the Governor and
Deputy Governor of Preah Sihanouk province. The Special Rapporteur also interacted with
a large number of other stakeholders, including a broader range of human rights
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