A/HRC/36/61 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 30/23. During the year under review, the Special Rapporteur monitored the situation of human rights in Cambodia, receiving information from various stakeholders, including the Government, civil society organizations and private citizens. The Special Rapporteur undertook one mission to Cambodia, from 9 to 19 October 2016. The present report contains the findings from that mission and information on the current situation on human rights. 2. The Special Rapporteur is grateful to the Government for its cooperation during her mission and its willingness to extend invitations for future visits. She notes, in particular, that the Government has agreed to the dates of her next mission, which is scheduled to take place from 8 to 18 August 2017. 3. During the reporting period, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of the Government, civil society organizations, the United Nations country team and development partners, among others. During her October mission, she had the privilege of meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn; the Minister of Justice, Ang Vong Vathana; the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Hang Chuon Naron; the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Ing Kantha Phavi; the Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Vong Sauth; and the Chair of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, Keo Remy, as well as other members of the Committee. She also met with the Governor of Phnom Penh, Pa Socheatvong, and with the then acting leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, Kem Sokha. II. General situation of human rights in Cambodia 4. In October 2016, many events were held to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the signing, on 23 October 1991, of the Agreements on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict (Paris Peace Agreements), which laid the foundation for presentday Cambodia, a State that has built on the peace and stability secured and become an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations and other international organizations. Since the Paris Peace Agreements were signed, recognition of international human rights standards has been an integral part of Cambodian governance. Article 3 of the Paris Peace Agreements, concerning the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia, proclaims that “all persons in Cambodia shall enjoy the rights and freedoms in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights instruments”. Article 31 of the Constitution reinforces that commitment to human rights, as does the impressive range of human rights treaties Cambodia has voluntarily ratified. However, many of the rights enshrined in the Constitution have not yet been fully realized for all in Cambodia. Moreover, many of the recommendations accepted by the country in the framework of the universal periodic review and many of the recommendations made by the United Nations treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders are pending implementation. Nevertheless, it is noted that the memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and Cambodia providing for the ongoing presence of the country office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) was finally concluded in December 2016. This secures ongoing support for the Government in realizing its human rights obligations. 5. The political situation continues to have implications for the protection and promotion of all human rights in the country. As reported orally to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-third session, the murder on 10 July 2016 of prominent Cambodian political analyst and social activist Kem Ley heightened tensions. Those tensions continued until the end of the period under review and the commune/sangkat (local) elections of 4 June 2017. Preliminary reports from the authorities and observers indicate that those elections appear to have been held without major incidents and in accordance with the law. 3