Fifth Session of the Human Rights Council

Report of the Special Representative on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia

U.S. Statement delivered by Jan Levin
Senior Human Rights Officer

Geneva,
June 12, 2007

Thank you, Mr. President.

We thank the Special Representative for his work and support the continuing work of the UN Special Representative and the Cambodia Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Although Cambodia continues to undergo a difficult transition to democratic governance, there have been recent positive developments, including improvements in the fight against human trafficking.  The United States acknowledges and appreciates Cambodia’s continued concentration on human rights provisions created at the Paris Conference in 1991.  The agreements that were developed at the Conference and intended to have long-lasting effects, each recognize the value and central importance of the protection and promotion of human rights for all Cambodians.

The United States commends Cambodia for the peaceful, and generally positive, local elections held on April 1.  However, long-standing problems in the electoral process, including voter registration problems, remain.  We urge the National Election Commission (NEC) to address these issues prior to the 2008 national elections.

Like the Special Representative, the United States remains concerned about the pervasiveness of executive influence and corruption.  The legal system suffers from a lack of independence from the executive branch, significantly eroding the judiciary’s ability to uphold the rule of law.  The United States joins the international community in urging Cambodia to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary, as well as that of the Constitutional Council to protect the human rights of the people of Cambodia.  The United States believes that a robust and independent judiciary paired with a vibrant civil society will allow Cambodia to move toward democratic reform.

The United States also acknowledges with serious concern the pressing problem of citizen access to land and natural resources.  Corruption, illegal and coercive land sales, eviction and forced relocation continue to impinge on Cambodian’s livelihoods.  We urge the Cambodians to act quickly in strictly regulating land concessions and in implementing the existing land registration process justly.  

The United States recognizes and appreciates Cambodia’s efforts to improve institutional capacity to enact extant and future human rights protections. We encourage the Government of Cambodia to advance its national reconciliation process through the continued effective administration of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, the creation of a fair and equitable land market, and the strong protection and defense of fundamental civil and political rights enshrined in the Constitution and international instruments. 

Thank you, Mr. President.