Overview 113th Session – Cambodia
Representatives from Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) ready to brief the HR Committee before the review of Cambodia.
The Human Rights Committee reviewed second periodic report of Cambodia on 17 and 18 March 2015, whereby a number of issues were raised such as continuing impunity of law enforcement officers and security guards, restriction of fundamental freedoms, and violence against women including domestic violence.
Conditions in prisons and the treatment of persons deprived of liberty was also questioned, whereby adequate food supply, hygiene, overcrowding, large number of persons in pre-trial detention for excessively long period, lack of juvenile justice system, torture and corruption were of particular concern. The use of forced confessions as main or even only evidence in the court appeared to be a prevalent issue, whereby burden of proof is put on the victims. The lack of transparency in legislation process and political interference in the judiciary were also pointed out as fundamental challenge in the effective implementation of the Covenant in the country.
While positive steps were also noted by the Committee, e.g. in some of the recent reform efforts in the country, major concern was also expressed over the lack of substantial information in the State report and replies to the questions asked by the Committee. In many cases, the delegation of Cambodia seemed to firmly reject the existence of the issues and refuse to provide any concrete answer to the questions arguing that the information provided to the Committee is groundless. At times, the delegation also appeared to shift the responsibility of addressing problems in the country to the civil society.
The Concluding Observations of the Committee, which includes recommendations, to Cambodia was adopted the 31th March 2015. Among those, recommendations concerning:
were selected by the Committee for its follow-up procedure, whereby Cambodia is requested to implement those and report back to the Committee within one year.
For a comprehensive overview of the discussion, see the proceedings on the OHCHR website or the webcast of the session.
The next periodic report of Cambodia should be submitted by the 2nd of April 2019.
