A/HRC/4/95 page 7 IV. ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE IN CAMBODIA OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASSISTING THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA IN THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS A. General objectives 10. The office in Cambodia continued to respond to cases and situations that required immediate attention, while assisting in longer-term strengthening of institutions with responsibilities to safeguard and uphold respect for human rights, as well as in developing policies, laws and practices consistent with Cambodia’s international human rights commitments. It structured its activities through three interlinked programmes which focused on monitoring and protection, rule of law, and land and livelihoods. 11. Its priorities included acting on reports of serious violations of human rights, enabling NGOs and civil society groups to function and carry out their work for human rights in safety in accordance with the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Declaration on Human Rights Defenders), promoting respect for freedoms of expression, association and assembly and contributing to programmes of legal and judicial reform. The Office monitored the implementation of the 2001 Land Law, with particular regard to the granting of economic land concessions and their impact on local populations, and to Cambodia’s indigenous peoples who face rapid alienation of their lands. 12. The office worked with the Government, the United Nations Country Team and with multilateral and bilateral development cooperation agencies to promote the integration and implementation of human rights standards in national development plans, policies and practices. 13. The office sought to foster an enabling environment for the implementation of human rights, through promoting increased understanding of international human rights instruments and their implementation in domestic law and practice, and greater awareness and appreciation of the role and contribution of NGOs advocating for human rights and social justice. B. Protection programme 14. Through its protection programme, the office in Cambodia gave priority to cases where NGOs and activists came under risk in connection with their work to defend human rights. It also took up cases that could have a serious impact on the overall human rights situation. It regularly brought its concerns to the attention of national and provincial authorities, including the courts, for resolution and effective remedy. It took action on a range of cases, including cases involving restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and assembly, illegal arrests and other serious breaches of criminal process guarantees, land disputes and illegal acquisition of land, forced evictions, and excessive use of force. The office advocated for relevant existing and draft laws relating to fundamental freedoms to comply with Cambodia’s Constitution and the international human rights treaties to which Cambodia is party. It also monitored trends in the exercise of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly.