A/HRC/36/61 further expansive and dramatic improvements were necessary to meet basic human rights standards. Despite claims by the authorities that those rounded up and brought to the centre had to remain there for a week to enable arrangements to be made by their families to collect them, most people who met with the Special Rapporteur had been there for considerably longer and many claimed they were being held against their will. Such a situation is consistent neither with the concept of a drop-in centre nor with the law. In the case of children, persons with mental health concerns, disabilities or long-term health needs, the authorities must ensure the identity of the person and verify the identity of an alleged family member wishing to collect him or her. However, those with independent capacity should be allowed to leave at will. 16. The Special Rapporteur observed that high numbers of people were crammed into basic rooms without adequate ventilation and with limited water and sanitation facilities. Bedding and food was provided. Many of the detainees had health issues, including HIV/AIDS, drug dependence and mental health or psychosocial conditions. Some women were pregnant. Several people had disabilities. However, appropriate professional medical support for those individuals was not available in the centre. For example, there were few pharmaceutical supplies in the medical unit and a local hospital was used for medical support. One block housed long-term residents, many of whom had psychosocial or mental disabilities or other specific health problems. Some of the people had either consented to living there or were in the centre because they had nowhere else to go. 17. Many of the detainees claimed they could not maintain contact with their children and relatives outside; some had been detained as a family unit but had then been separated in the facility. Many vulnerable people find themselves in street situations and while some may have infringed laws, for example laws on substance abuse, many have not. Several children, some accompanied by a parent or other care giver, others not, had also been detained. During her visit, the Special Rapporteur witnessed some unaccompanied children being released into the care of a non-governmental organization (NGO) working with street children. Most persons in the centre were being detained against their will, without a legal basis, making their detention arbitrary. An urgent, holistic, coordinated interministerial and multi-agency response is needed and must be adequately resourced to alleviate the situation. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the reassurances given that there will continue to be 24-hour access to the centre for the United Nations and NGOs. The establishment of a proper (and properly resourced) facility that provides the necessary care, services and assistance to persons in street situations should be prioritized. Its intended beneficiaries should be able to obtain assistance on a voluntary basis. Expeditious action should be taken by the Government to implement the recommendations made at the national conference on persons in street situations held in Phnom Penh in December 2015. 18. The Special Rapporteur was informed by the Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation of the existence of drug rehabilitation centres and of the planned facility in Kandal Province for people with psychosocial disabilities. It is hoped that a holistic response to addressing the real needs of people who are drug dependent or who have psychosocial disabilities will be taken, to ensure they are supported and, where appropriate, can be successfully rehabilitated into the community. Target 3.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals seeks to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol, which is particularly relevant in Cambodia. The creation of a specialized centre for psychosocial care should be pursued, although only if compliance with human rights standards can be guaranteed. 19. The Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government include, in its imminent strategy for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, action plans for reducing poverty (Goal 1), ensuring health and well-being (Goal 3), ensuring full and productive work for all (Goal 8), addressing food security and clean water (Goals 2 and 6) and reducing inequalities (Goal 10). As interministerial and multi-agency responses evolve, the number of people in street situations should decrease. In the interim, their basic human rights and freedoms should be protected. 6

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