UN human rights expert to launch fact-finding mission to Cambodia

GENEVA / PHNOM PENH (11 JUNE 2014) – 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 15 to 25 June 2014. This will be the Special Rapporteur’s 11th official visit to the country.

“As a follow-up to my last mission in January this year, the focus of this mission will be to further explore the progress made by the Royal Government of Cambodia towards establishing independent human rights institutions,” Subedi said. “I also intend to use this visit to assess progress on the implementation of the recommendations made in my previous reports dealing with judiciary, parliamentary, electoral and land reform in Cambodia.”

During his 10-day visit, the independent expert will meet with senior members of the Royal Government. He will also meet with representatives of civil society organisations, the business community, the UN country team and donors. Subedi is also expected to undertake field visits to gather first-hand information on the enjoyment of human rights in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The UN rights expert undertakes regular visits to Cambodia and reports annually to the Human Rights Council. Since his appointment in March 2009, the expert has made ten visits to the Kingdom of Cambodia to date and has presented six reports to the UN Human Rights Council, which renewed his mandate for a further two years in September 2013. Subedi will present his next report to the Human Rights Council at its September 2014 session.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference at the end of his visit, on Tuesday, 24 June at 3 p.m. at the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), 10 Street 302, Boeng Keng Kang 1, in Phnom Penh.

ENDS

(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s latest report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/24/36): http://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/regular-sessions/session24/list-reports

(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s latest press release: http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/AA54E93826AB3D05C1257CE500380E9B?OpenDocument

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 and a practising Barrister in the United Kingdom. He also is the editor of the Asian Journal of International Law (published by Cambridge University Press) and the Vice-President of the Asian Society of International Law.

UN Human Rights, country page – Cambodia: http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/cambodia

For additional information and media enquiries, please contact:
In Phnom Penh: Ms. Bushra Rahman, (+855 12 790 178 / brahman@ohchr.org)
In Geneva: Ms. Olga Nakajo (+41 22 928 9348 / +41 79 444 4078 / +855 12 777 831 / 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)

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