A/HRC/15/46 capable of conducting complex criminal trials to international standards and the work of the Extraordinary Chambers is likely to be regarded as a good model for the Cambodian judiciary. There has been a great deal of interest in the work of the Chambers in Cambodia. More than 31,000 people visited the Chambers to witness the hearing from all over Cambodia. It is expected that the trial of the second case will commence in the fall. There is a possibility that further cases will proceed as the International Co-Prosecutor has forwarded his introductory submissions against five additional individuals. 59. Besides non-governmental organizations such as the Asian International Justice Initiative and the Open Society Justice Initiative, there is no United Nations or other formal international mechanism to monitor the activities of the ECCC, protect its independence and integrity and inform the national and international community about its accomplishments and the challenges it is facing. There is much expectation that the ECCC will function as a model court in Cambodia, so that good practices can be shared with the wider judiciary and gradually help uplift its practice. The place of the ECCC within the Cambodian judicial system potentially enables the Cambodian judges, prosecutors and other court officials at the ECCC to transfer knowledge to their colleagues in the judiciary. Such a project is being initiated by OHCHR-Cambodia and in close cooperation with the Cambodian judges and prosecutors. 60. The scheme of victim participation as a civil society party developed within the ECCC seems to have made a positive contribution to the society in reconciling itself with its tragic past and in healing the wounds. The programme of organized visits to the ECCC for the ordinary people of Cambodia seems to have served as an educational tool in the country in promoting the idea of a fair trial and the rule of law. All in all, this new experiment in international criminal justice seems to have worked reasonably well thus far. 61. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the verdict delivered on 26 July 2010 by the ECCC in the trial of Kaing Guek Eav. Although his prosecution for crimes against humanity and war crimes has come more than three decades after the crimes were committed, the verdict signifies a commitment by the Government of Cambodia to account for the crimes of the Khmer rouge period according to internationally accepted standards of fair trial, a process that is unprecedented in Cambodia. 62. The Special Rapporteur hopes that this trial will have a positive impact on the strengthening of the independence of the judiciary. He welcomes the conclusion of this first case and encourages all parties to work together towards the remaining three cases. He urges the judges of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts for Cambodia to defend their independence and integrity and uphold the highest standards of justice, and to continue to demonstrate by example to the judiciary and the people. The Special Rapporteur hopes that this landmark conviction will serve as a catalyst for the Government to address impunity and accelerate its legal and judicial reforms. 63. The international community should continue providing the support the ECCC needs in conducting investigations and trials in accordance with international standards and in ensuring that the judiciary as a whole benefits from the work of the Extraordinary Chambers. VII. Conclusions 64. Cambodia has made great strides in strengthening human rights in recent years in an environment of political stability, economic growth and continued generous international assistance and support. The challenge for the Government is first of all to effectively implement its own laws. In this process, not only does it need to transform its international human rights obligations into national law but put these 15