A/HRC/4/36 page 21 97. These are all familiar phenomena that have been studied in many countries, including in East Asia and in post-conflict settings. Yet Cambodia is unique insofar as the international community has played a central role since the peace agreements in rebuilding the country and its institutions, with the aim of establishing a regime based on respect for human rights and the rule of law. 98. The Special Representative regrets that instead of responding to the concerns raised by the special representatives and United Nations bodies, a frequent response of the Government has been evasion or accusation, scapegoating and intimidation. 99. The protection and enjoyment of human rights are essential to ensure a legacy of peace with justice for Cambodia, 15 years after the peace agreements and 27 years after the end of the regime of Democratic Kampuchea. 100. Important commitments have been made to Cambodia’s people that cannot be thrown aside. It is the Government’s duty and responsibility to put in place policies and laws to meet these commitments and the duty of the international community to help it in doing so. More fundamentally, the Government, the ruling party, other political parties and Cambodia’s powerful business elites would do well to reflect on the kind of society they want Cambodia to become. 101. In his message to the children and youth of Cambodia on Human Rights Day 2005, the Special Representative expressed concern that attitudes towards human rights have become very divisive in Cambodia, that some people consider advocates of human rights as obstacles to development, and that in this argument the real meaning of human rights is getting lost. 102. He underlined that the fundamental principle of human rights is that everyone is equal in rights and dignity, regardless of whether the person is rich or poor, young or old, weak or powerful. While this may upset the current order of things, it creates the possibility of relationships based on respect and fairness. 103. Solidarity, another important principle of human rights, recognizes that we are all human beings, that we share the same needs and aspirations, that we should treat everyone around us with tolerance, respect and understanding. Through the rights of expression and association we, as the community, can exchange ideas peacefully and cooperate. 104. Human rights are also about our responsibility to our neighbours and to our society, and they are about our protection against unjust or oppressive government, creating rules about relations between people and the State. They enable people to choose their leaders and determine the policies of the State. They are about dialogue and participation. They ensure the accountability of the Government and integrity of its leaders. The idea of dignity, which is so central to rights, means that society must try to ensure that everyone has security and that their basic needs for food, shelter, clothing and clean water at the bare minimum are met. Without such conditions, people cannot participate on an equal basis, and there can be no justice. 105. The Special Representative looks forward to discussing this report and his recommendations on his next mission to Cambodia in early 2007 before presenting them to the Human Rights Council at its fourth session. He finalized this report on 18 December 2006.