GENEVA (28 September 2010) – “There has been a disproportionate use of the law regarding defamation and disinformation against journalists, human rights activists and political leaders,” said Surya P. Subedi, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, while delivering his report* to the 15th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today.

While acknowledging that Cambodia had, over the years, made some significant strides and noteworthy progress in strengthening human rights, including enacting some major new laws to this effect, Mr. Subedi went on to state that “Cambodia remains a complex country in terms of the protection and promotion of human rights, as democratization has not yet fully taken root.”

“The major areas of concern are those relating to access to land and housing rights, freedom of expression, and the numerous challenges faced by the judiciary and they continue to dominate the legal and political landscape in Cambodia,” he stated.

Mr. Subedi recommended in his report a series of measures to be taken to strengthen the independence and capacity of the judiciary and the situation of human rights in Cambodia and expressed his concern about the narrowing of political space in Cambodia for those belonging to the opposition parties and other political activists.

Since the submission of his report, he noted the conviction of the leader of the Opposition Party, Sam Rainsy, hoped that it will be subject to appeal and urged that this be conducted with the utmost attention to due process and principles of fair trial.

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the endeavours and willingness of the Government to further improve the human rights situation and strengthen the independence and capacity of the judiciary, and called upon the Royal Government to become more tolerant towards the internal stakeholders and the international community in moving the country forward and to establish a programme of action with a clear timetable to implement the recommendations made in his report.

Surya P. Subedi, Professor of Law at the University of Leeds, UK, was appointed Special Rapporteur in 2009 by the Human Rights Council. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity.

(*): See the full report: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/15session/A.HRC.15.46_en.pdf

Learn more about the Special Rapporteur’s mandate and work: http://cambodia.ohchr.org/EN/PagesFiles/SpecialRapporteurIndex.htm

OHCHR Country Page – Cambodia: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/KHIndex.aspx

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