Cambodia: UN Special Rapporteur to follow up on human rights progress and challenges ahead

GENEVA / PHNOM PENH (6 December 2012) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, will carry out an official visit to the country from 8 to 15 December 2012 to explore the progress achieved on the implementation of the recommendations made in his previous reports on the judiciary, parliamentary reform, electoral reform and economic land concessions.

“As part of the ongoing assessment of state institutions from the perspective of human rights protection,” Mr. Subedi said, “I wish to assist the Royal Government of Cambodia in identifying areas of progress as well as challenges or difficulties faced in implementing my recommendations, and to jointly explore the ways and means of addressing them in a constructive manner.”

Since his appointment in March 2009, the Special Rapporteur has made eight visits to the Kingdom of Cambodia to date and has presented five reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council, which renewed his mandate for a further two years in March 2011.

The Special Rapporteur will present his next report to the Human Rights Council at its September 2013 session.

During his visit, Mr. Subedi hopes to meet with the King, the Prime Minister and other key Government leaders and officials. The Special Rapporteur is also expected to meet with human rights defenders, representatives from civil society organizations and communities as well as the donor community and the United Nations Country Team.

At the end of his eight-day mission, the Special Rapporteur will release a press statement highlighting the issues raised during his meetings and summarizing his initial conclusions.

Professor Surya P. Subedi was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Cambodia in March 2009. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organisation and serves in his individual capacity. He is currently Professor of International Law at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.

UN Human Rights, country page – Cambodia: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/KHIndex.aspx

For additional information and media enquiries, please contact:
In Phnom Penh: Ms. Zoe Latumbo, (+855 12 790 178 / zlatumbo@ohchr.org)
In Geneva: Ms. Olga Nakajo (+41 22 928 9348 / onakajo@ohchr.org) or write to srcambodia@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitednationshumanrights
Twitter: http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
Google+ gplus.to/unitednationshumanrights
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR
Storify: http://storify.com/UNrightswire

Check the Universal Human Rights Index: http://uhri.ohchr.org/en