A/HRC/36/61 Cham communities 31. The Cham people form the majority of the Cambodian Muslim population and are generally recognized as a religious rather than an ethnic minority in Cambodia. They form a relatively heterogeneous group and most live along the Mekong River and around Tonle Sap Lake. They speak the Cham language but also, usually, Khmer. The Cham people were considered Cambodian citizens before the Khmer Rouge period, when they were specifically persecuted. Case 002/02 against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia includes a charge of genocide against the Cham. The Cham people have now re-established their lives in Cambodia and their religious practices. Many survive by fishing; others live in Phnom Penh. In October 2016, the Special Rapporteur visited urban Cham communities to better understand their situation. 32. Urban Cham communities generally feel well integrated into Khmer society and do not feel that their religion or ethnicity affects how they are treated. There is evidence of specific education combining the national curriculum with Islamic subjects and Qur’anic studies. The Minister of Education, Youth and Sports informed the Special Rapporteur that the salaries of some 1,400 Muslim teachers were being supported by his Ministry. Cham people were active in politics. There was also evidence of intermarriage. Those with whom the Special Rapporteur met had identity documents and were able to travel freely. The poorer Cham, however, faced the same challenges as other poor Khmer, including vulnerability in respect of their economic, social and cultural rights, for example in terms of access to clean water, sanitation and health care. The information received, however, indicated that there was little discrimination against Cham communities. Ethnic Vietnamese and Khmer Krom communities 33. The ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia are a heterogeneous minority. Many are recent migrants and people engaging in cross-border trade. Some are in Cambodia legally, others illegally, and they have many different residency statuses. A particular focus for the Special Rapporteur are those ethnic Vietnamese who have lived in Cambodia for generations and the Khmer Krom, ethnic Khmer people who found themselves living in Viet Nam when the borders were drawn. Many Khmer Krom were displaced during the periods of conflict in the latter part of the twentieth century, often losing their identity papers. Case 002/02 before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia includes a charge of genocide against the Vietnamese in Cambodia, distinct from any alleged crimes on Vietnamese territory. Following the return of peace in Cambodia, many of those people returned to Cambodia or regrouped into pre-conflict era communities. 34. In October 2016, the Special Rapporteur met with ethnic Vietnamese and Khmer Krom communities. Many of those individuals appeared to face challenges with birth registration and identity cards. The lack of identity documents inevitably had an impact on many other rights, particularly to basic social services. The Government published its National Strategic Plan of Identification 2017-2026 in June 2016. The Plan seeks to ensure that everyone is recognized, a goal that is consistent with international human rights law. It also underpins the Sustainable Development Goals principle of ensuring that no one is left behind. The Plan should help ensure that all children in Cambodia are able to have their births registered and that all those who have historically been based in the country can once again get appropriate identity cards. In terms of international human rights law, all children are entitled to a nationality and to birth registration. It is worrying that a number of people living in Cambodia or deported to Viet Nam are stateless or at risk of being rendered stateless. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the willingness of the Government to grant Khmer citizenship to Khmer Krom, in accordance with article 33 of the Constitution. Despite this, in reality many Khmer Krom face difficulties in getting birth certificates and identity documents in Cambodia. The Government should abide by its Constitution, its national laws and the international conventions it has ratified with regard to nationality, citizenship and non-discrimination. It should also take steps to prevent and end statelessness in Cambodia. 9