A/HRC/45/56
62.
OHCHR documented the prosecution, under the Law on Suppression of Human
Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, of more than 40 women serving as surrogates. On 31
March 2020, Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted 33 women of attempted sale of a
person for cross-border transfer under this same law. On 5 and 6 December 2019, OHCHR
participated in an expert consultation on draft principles for the protection of the rights of
the child in the context of surrogacy, organized by the International Social Service. At the
consultation, OHCHR addressed surrogacy in Cambodia through the lens of the rights to
identity and nationality, and issues associated with legal parentage, intermediaries, and nondiscrimination.
63.
OHCHR also investigated allegations of sexual violence against indigenous women
in Ratanakiri Province. The continuing investigations are being conducted in partnership
with the Cambodia Indigenous Women’s Working Group, a local civil society organization
working with indigenous peoples. A report will be finalized in 2020.
64.
In promoting International Women’s Day, OHCHR partnered with the United
Nations country team, development partners and local artists on a joint #HeForShe
campaign. Three round tables were held, with artists and women influencers, along with a
concert that was live-streamed on social media.
B.
Situation of LGBTI persons
65.
Cambodia accepted all of the recommendations relating to LGBTI persons during
the third cycle of its universal periodic review, in January 2019 (see A/HRC/41/17). This
included recommendations to amend the law to allow same-sex marriage, and to adopt a
specific law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender
identity. OHCHR strengthened its engagement with NGOs advocating for the rights of
LGBTI persons.
66.
In July 2019, with the support of the United Nations country team, OHCHR
launched a campaign to promote the rights of LGBTI persons, as part of the United Nations
Free and Equal campaign. This included a video aimed at breaking down barriers that
prevent LGBTI persons from participating equally in society. An OHCHR campaign video
posted to Facebook,30 which featured the life of a gay Cambodian man, has been viewed on
Facebook 633,000 times.
VII. Mainstreaming human rights within the United Nations
framework
67.
OHCHR continued to promote the mainstreaming of human rights in the work of the
United Nations country team by leading, with UN-Women, the results group on
participation and accountability under the United Nations Development Assistance
Framework (2019–2023).
68.
OHCHR chaired the human rights theme group, coordinating United Nations
country team actions: for example, on the situation of persons held in social affairs centres,
including with regard to the increased vulnerability of residents – who include homeless
persons, sex workers, and persons living with HIV/AIDS – during the COVID-19
pandemic. OHCHR continued to be an active member of the United Nations gender theme
group and the youth task force.
69.
OHCHR coordinated joint submissions by the United Nations country team to the
human rights treaty bodies and to the special procedures of the Human Rights Council. This
included submissions to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Human Rights
Committee. OHCHR and UN-Women conducted a mock session for government officials
in advance of the review of Cambodia by the Committee on the Elimination of
30
Available at https://bit.ly/2ZRJM0Z.
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