Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur for Cambodia
As Delivered by Ambassador Keith Harper
U.S. Representative to the Human Rights Council
UN Human Rights Council 33rd Session
Geneva,
September 28, 2016
Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States expresses its appreciation for the report of the Special Rapporteur. We are pleased to see the successes cited in the report, including the meeting of Millennium Development Goals, sustained economic growth, and improvements in education and health care.
However, we remain concerned about the human rights situation in Cambodia, and we call upon Cambodia to promote the rule of law through transparent legislative and judicial processes and the strengthening of the independence of the judiciary at all levels. The United States and 38 likeminded countries expressed our views clearly on the human rights situation in Cambodia in our September 14th joint statement to the Council.
We encourage the Government to resume genuine political dialogue with the opposition so that Cambodia can forge the consensus needed to forcefully confront critical human rights and other issues, including the promotion and protection of education, land rights, the environment, and women’s rights.
I will conclude with one question: What has the Special Rapporteur observed regarding preparations for free and fair elections in both 2017 and 2018?
Thank you, Madame Vice-President.