| United Nations | A/50/681/Add.1 |
General Assembly
Distr. GENERAL
26 October 1995
ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH
Fiftieth session
Agenda item 112 (b)
HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONS: HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONS, INCLUDING ALTERNATIVE
APPROACHES FOR IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVE ENJOYMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Report of the Secretary-General
Role of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights in
assisting the Government and people of Cambodia in the
promotion and protection of human rights
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
ABBREVIATIONS ..........................................................3
I. INTRODUCTION ........................................ 1 - 134
II. ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA 14 - 1177
A. Assistance under the Trust Fund for a Human Rights
Education Programme in Cambodia ................. 16 - 227
B. Assistance under the regular budget ............. 239
C. Activities implemented in the period from
December 1994 to July 1995 ...................... 24 - 1129
1. Assistance in legislative reform ............ 25 - 569
2. Assistance in the development and
strengthening of national institutions ...... 57 - 6115
3. Administration of justice ................... 62 - 8017
95-33031 (E) 201195/...
*9533031*
CONTENTS (continued)
Paragraphs Page
4. Treaty reporting and international
obligations ................................. 81 - 8519
5. Education for human-rights and teacher
training .................................... 86 - 9221
6. Support to non-governmental organizations
and civil society ........................... 93 - 10022
7. Human rights and the media .................. 10124
8. Information and documentation ............... 102 - 10624
9. Training of government officials ............ 10725
10. Visit of Ms. Graca Machel ................... 10825
11. Overview of the Provincial Offices Network .. 109 - 11226
D. Administrative, financial and other matters ..... 113 - 11726
III. ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM IN THE FIELD
OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA ......................... 118 - 13428
Annexes
I. Contributions to the Trust Fund ..................................32
II. Expenditures under the Trust Fund ................................33
III. Conventions in the field of human rights ratified by Cambodia ....36
ABBREVIATIONS
AIDAB Australian International Development Assistance Bureau
ADHOC Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association
AUSAID Australia AID Agency
CADEAS Cambodian Defenders' Association
CHARTO Cambodian Human Rights Trainers Organization
CIDA Canadian International Development Agency
ECPAT End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism
JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency
JITED Joint Initiative for Training in Ethics and Defamation
KID Khmer Institute for Democracy
KKKHRA Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Association
LICADHO Ligue cambodgienne pour la promotion et la defense des droits de
l'homme
PDK Party of Democratic Kampuchea
SIDA Sweden International Development Agency
UNTAC United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
UNV United Nations Volunteers
USAID United States Agency for International Development
VIGILANCE Human Rights Vigilance of Cambodia
I. INTRODUCTION
Programmes, mandate and reporting
1. Under Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/6 of 19 February 1993,
the Centre for Human Rights was mandated:
(a) To manage the implementation of educational and technical assistance
and advisory services programmes, and to ensure their continuation;
(b) To assist the Government of Cambodia, at its request, in meeting its
obligations under human rights instruments recently acceded to, including
the preparation of reports to the relevant monitoring committees;
(c) To provide support to bona fide human rights groups in Cambodia;
(d) To contribute to the creation and/or strengthening of national
institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights;
(e) To continue to assist with the drafting and implementation of
legislation to promote and protect human rights;
(f) To continue to assist with the training of persons responsible for
the administration of justice.
2. The Commission requested the Secretary-General to communicate the
content of the resolution to, and seek the consent and cooperation of, the
Government to facilitate the tasks of the Centre in the fulfilment of its
mandate, and decided to review the programme and mandate of the Centre at
its next session.
3. The General Assembly, in its resolution 48/154 of 20 December 1993,
requested the Secretary-General, in line with all effective measures, to
assure the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to
report to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session on the programmes
and activities of the Centre in Cambodia.
4. Information on the programme of activities in Cambodia of the Centre
for Human Rights and the activities performed from October 1993 to January
1994 was made available to the Commission in the first report of the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in
Cambodia 1/ as well as the letter sent to the Secretary-General by the two
Co-Prime Ministers in which they welcomed the initiative of the Commission
and the efforts of the Centre to ensure the continuity in activities for
the promotion and protection of human rights through the establishment in
Cambodia of the Centre's office. The Commission, by its resolution 1994/61
of 4 March 1994, took note with satisfaction of the exchange of letters
between the Secretary-General and the Government concerning the consent of
the Government for the fulfilment of the activities of the Centre and
decided to review the programmes and mandates of the Centre at its next
session.
5. Information on the activities of the Centre from February to July 1994
was submitted to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session as an
addendum to the report of the Secretary-General on the question
(A/49/635/Add.1). The General Assembly, in its resolution 1994/199 of 23
December 1994, welcomed the report of the Secretary-General on the role of
the Centre in assisting the Cambodian Government and people in the
promotion and protection of human rights; commended the ongoing efforts of
the office of the Centre in Cambodia in supporting and assisting the
Government, as well as in supporting non-governmental organizations and
others involved in the protection and promotion of human rights in
cooperation with the Government, and condemned unreservedly attacks on
them; and requested the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly
at its fiftieth session on the role of the Centre in assisting the
Government and people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human
rights. The Assembly decided to continue its consideration of the
situation of human rights in Cambodia at its fiftieth session.
6. Information on the activities of the Centre from July to November 1994
was submitted to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-first session.
2/ In its resolution 1995/55 of 3 March 1995, the Commission noted with
appreciation the programmes of activities of the Centre; welcomed the
efforts made by the Government to promote and protect human rights,
including measures to improve human rights education, conditions of prisons
and in creating a functioning system of justice, and urged that efforts
continue in those areas; expressed grave concern about the atrocities
committed by the Khmer Rouge; condemned unreservedly, all threats by the
Khmer Rouge; expressed grave concern at the devastating consequences and
destabilizing effects of the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel land-
mines on Cambodian society and encouraged the Government to continue its
efforts to remove those mines; called upon the Government to ensure the
full observance of human rights for all persons within its jurisdiction;
welcomed the agreement by the Governments of Cambodia and Viet Nam to
address immigration policy and practice in a way consistent with national
legislation and appropriate international standards; encouraged the
Government to continue its efforts to meet its reporting obligations under
international human rights instruments, drawing on the assistance of the
office in Cambodia of the Centre; and encouraged the National Assembly to
enact a press law consistent with internationally recognized standards and
which protected freedom of expression while promoting press responsibility.
The Commission also decided to review the programmes and mandates set out
in its resolution 1993/6 at its fifty-second session, requested the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General to report to it at the same session
on the role of the Centre for Human Rights in assisting the Cambodian
Government, and decided to continue its consideration of the matter under
the agenda item entitled "Advisory services in the field of human rights".
7. The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 49/199. It contains a description of the activities and
programmes implemented in Cambodia by the Centre for Human Rights from
December 1994 to 31 July 1995.
Operational presence of the Centre
8. The Centre for Human Rights was first mandated to establish an
operational presence in Cambodia in February 1993 by the Commission on
Human Rights in its resolution 1993/6, which was subsequently endorsed by
the Economic and Social Council in its decision 1993/254 of 28 July 1993.
9. In order to meet the request of the Commission on Human Rights that an
operational presence of the Centre for Human Rights be established after
the expiry of the mandate of the United Nations Transitional Authority in
Cambodia (UNTAC) and in order to ensure a smooth transition from UNTAC to
the Centre for Human Rights with no disruption in the implementation of
human rights activities in Cambodia, the Centre established its office in
Cambodia on 1 October 1993, immediately after the departure of UNTAC at the
end of September 1993.
10. In a letter dated 28 June 1995, the Secretary-General informed all
Member States that, in March 1995, the Co-Prime Ministers of Cambodia had
written to him to explore the possibility of the Centre terminating its
operational presence in the country by the end of 1995 and continuing its
technical cooperation activities from its headquarters in Geneva. During a
subsequent meeting with the Second Prime Minister, Mr. Hun Sen, in New
York, the Secretary-General proposed to send a Special Envoy to Cambodia to
discuss the issue with the Government. Accordingly, Mr. Marrack Goulding,
Under-SecretaryGeneral for Political Affairs, visited Cambodia from 4 to 6
May 1995. The Secretary-General was pleased to inform all Member States
that his Special Envoy's mission resulted in agreements not only on the
maintenance of the office in Cambodia of the United Nations Centre for
Human Rights but also on various steps to be taken to enhance the
cooperation between the Government of Cambodia and the Centre for Human
Rights (see also paras. 18, 19, 21 and 23 below).
11. One of those steps was for the Centre to have a more proactive
approach in soliciting comments by the Government on the reports on its
activities in Cambodia prepared for submission to the Commission on Human
Rights and to the General Assembly and to establish a procedure for
enhanced communication in that regard. In the past, although the draft
report had been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs one month before
the submission for publication, no comments were received. In 1995, three
inter-ministerial meetings were held to improve communications between the
Government and the Centre on the issue of reports, in July, August and
October. They included concerned officials of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and other ministries, and representatives of the Cambodia office of
the Centre. During that process, the Centre informed the Government that
the Special Representative had proposed that his draft report be also dealt
with in the context of the new procedure for enhanced communication. The
Government subsequently provided a list of suggestions for revision and
comments on the draft report of the Special Representative, which were
immediately submitted to him.
12. Several ministries communicated their comments to the Centre on the
relevant excerpts of the report which had been brought to their attention
as agreed with the Government. The Ministry of Information had made
several proposals for revisions, which have been taken into consideration
by the Centre. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Veteran Affairs
also made suggestions for revision. The Chairman of the National Assembly
indicated that he wished to obtain more information on the activities of
the Centre and a meeting was organized between representatives of the
Centre and one of his advisers.
13. On 2 October 1995, the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his statement
to the General Assembly mentioned that the Government of Cambodia
appreciated the work of the Special Representative; that through
cooperation and regular consultations with him and the Centre for Human
Rights steps were being taken to improve the situation of human rights in
the country; and that Cambodia continued to support the presence and work
of the Centre, which was bringing precious contributions and
recommendations to the improvement of the overall situation in Cambodia.
II. ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA
14. The Centre for Human Rights worked in close cooperation during the
period under consideration with the ministries concerned, provincial
authorities, the National Assembly, the judiciary, United Nations agencies,
funds and programmes, bilateral development agencies, the diplomatic corps,
Cambodian human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), human rights
defenders, the press, the monks, the school leaders and the general public
at large.
15. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights
in Cambodia and the Director of the Cambodia office of the Centre for Human
Rights were invited for an audience with His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech
Preah Norodom Sihanouk Varman, King of Cambodia, on 27 January 1995, at
which the Director presented to the King the technical cooperation mandate,
activities and programmes of the Centre for Human Rights in Cambodia. In
March 1995, the offices of the Centre for Human Rights and of the World
Health Organization (WHO) in Cambodia were consulted on the organization of
an audience with the King to discuss "Health and AIDS". At the audience,
on 17 March 1995, the representative of the Cambodia office summarized for
the King the recommendations on the topic made by the Special
Representative in his last report to the Commission on Human Rights.
A. Assistance under the Trust Fund for a Human Rights
Education Programme in Cambodia
16. Most of the activities to be implemented by the Centre for Human
Rights in Cambodia are to be financed from voluntary contributions to the
Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education Programme in Cambodia.
Contributions received as at 30 June 1995 are shown in annex I to the
present report.
17. By its resolution 1993/6, the Commission on Human Rights strongly
urged Governments and interested organizations to consider contributing to
the Trust Fund. That appeal was repeated by the Commission on Human Rights
in its resolution 1994/61 of 4 March 1994 and by the General Assembly in
its resolution 48/154. In its resolution 49/199 of 23 December 1994,
paragraph 19, the General Assembly noted with appreciation the use by the
Secretary-General of the Trust Fund to finance the programme of activities
in Cambodia of the Centre for Human Rights (see A/49/635/Add.1, paras. 4-9)
and the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 1995/55 of 3 March
1995, paragraph 23, invited Governments, intergovernmental and non-
governmental organizations, foundations and individuals to consider
contributing to the Trust Fund.
18. A first appeal to finance the programme of activities of the Centre
for Human Rights in Cambodia was launched by the Assistant Secretary-
General for Human Rights, Mr. Ibrahima Fall, in November 1993, shortly
after the establishment of the Centre's office in Phnom Penh. On 28 June
1995, the Secretary-General launched a new appeal to all Member States, in
which he mentioned that the contributions made by a number of States in
1993 and 1994 had been used for the implementation of activities such as
judicial assistance, human rights training for police and prison officials
and military personnel, advisory services on prison reform, financial
support to local NGOs, assistance in the drafting of legislation,
information activities and assistance to the Cambodian Government in
meeting its reporting obligations under international human rights
treaties.
19. The Secretary-General indicated that additional resources were needed
to enable the Centre to continue to implement its programme in Cambodia, as
requested by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, and
to enhance its technical assistance activities, as desired by the
Government of Cambodia. The Secretary-General therefore invited all Member
States to favourably consider making voluntary financial contributions to
the Trust Fund. In the view of the Secretary-General, positive reaction
from the Governments to that appeal would be an important contribution to
the consolidation of the peace and democratization process in Cambodia.
20. At the time of the preparation of the present report, as a follow-up
to the letter of the Secretary-General, a contribution of US$ 500,000 had
been received from Australia and a pledge of L200,000 had been made by the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As with all other
United Nations trust funds, 13 per cent of programme support costs are
applied to all contributions received and 15 per cent is kept for operating
cash reserve.
21. Details of the expenses under the Trust Fund can be found in annex II
concerning assistance to the Government (sect. A) and assistance to
Cambodian NGOs (sect. B). Activities funded under the Trust Fund included
32 grants to Cambodian NGOs for the implementation of human rights
activities; the establishment of three provincial offices to implement the
Centre's programme in the Cambodian provinces; the implementation of a
Judicial Mentors Programme to assist five Cambodian courts; the provision
of advisory services on prison reform and the organization of a seminar on
the same topic; a grant to the Permanent Secretariat of the Inter-
Ministerial Committee and its subcommittees on reporting obligations; and a
study trip for Cambodian officials to Thailand to study AIDS prevention
strategies.
22. Through the Trust Fund, the Centre for Human Rights provided direct
financial assistance to Cambodian human rights NGOs. In 1994, the Centre
funded 32 projects at a cost of $442,225. A detailed procedure for the
assignment of grants and criteria for narrative and financial reporting to
the Centre on the use of the funds received has been elaborated and
applied. Appropriate briefings on the issue have been provided to the NGOs
that are beneficiaries of grants. The Centre has started receiving interim
reports on the activities implemented through the grants and established a
Trust Fund Management Team which has prepared a database and monitors the
use of grants. Technical and financial support provided by the Centre to
local NGOs is contributing to improving the capacity of Cambodian human
rights NGOs to perform their activities, including monitoring the situation
of human rights in the country, providing human rights education to various
segments of Cambodian society, assisting vulnerable groups such as women,
children and minorities as well as to cooperating with the Government in
gathering relevant information on the implementation of the Constitution,
the United Nations human rights conventions and the human rights laws and
in providing government officials with relevant training in the field of
human rights.
B. Assistance under the regular budget
23. In addition to financing the salaries of the staff and the operational
expenses of the Cambodia office of the Centre, the United Nations regular
budget provided some funds to place, at the request of the Cambodian
Government, for six months a consultant at the Ministry of Interior to
advise on immigration and nationality matters ($24,000) and to provide a
consultant to strengthen Cambodian NGOs working in the area of children's
rights ($8,750).
C. Activities implemented in the period from December 1994
to July 1995
24. The activities implemented in Cambodia by the Centre for Human Rights
in the period from October 1993 to January 1994 are mentioned in the
addendum to the Special Representative's first report to the Commission on
Human Rights; 3/ from February to July 1994, in the addendum to the Special
Representative's 1994 report to the General Assembly; 4/ and from July to
November 1994, in the Special Representative's report to the Commission at
its fifty-first session. 5/ The activities implemented from December 1994
to July 1995 are described below. They are grouped according to the
components of the programme of advisory services and technical assistance
of the Centre for Human Rights.
1. Assistance in legislative reform
25. Through its office in Cambodia the Centre for Human Rights has carried
out the following activities for the creation, strengthening and support of
national institutions and a legal framework consistent with international
human rights norms and for securing the promotion and protection of human
rights.
26. Assistance has been provided to the National Assembly in general and
to its various commissions, including the Commission on Human Rights and
the Reception of Complaints and to the Government, including various
ministries, in the drafting and implementation of the laws listed
hereunder, including by the provision of comments. Technical assistance
has been provided to the judiciary through the Judicial Mentors Programme
and the Provincial Officers Network Programme. Assistance has also been
provided to the civil society, including non-governmental organizations and
media organizations and groups through assistance in active participation
in the drafting and implementation of laws.
27. Supreme Council of Magistracy. The Law on the Establishment and
Functioning of the Supreme Council of Magistracy was adopted by the
National Assembly between 20 and 22 December 1994. The law provides for
the appointment and transfer of and disciplinary action against judges and
prosecutors. Before the passage of the law, an earlier draft had been
returned by the National Assembly to the Government with questions related
to its compatibility with the Constitution and for the insertion of
provisions to better protect the independence of the judiciary, with the
advice that an appropriate draft law should be prepared in consultation
with the concerned members of the National Assembly.
28. The Centre communicated its recommendations, through the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, to the Government on the human rights aspects of the draft
law, including several suggestions for amendments to the procedure for the
appointment of judges, the grounds for their removal, types of disciplinary
action that might be taken and provisions to guarantee the independence of
the judiciary. No reply was received from the Government. The Government
returned the draft in its original form to the National Assembly. At the
request of several members of the Assembly, the Centre prepared detailed
comments on the draft law with suggestions for amendments. In addition,
several meetings were held with members of the National Assembly and
officials of the Ministry of Justice. The law, as it was adopted, does not
include any provisions that were recommended for inclusion.
29. At the time of preparation of the present report, the first meeting of
the Supreme Council of Magistracy had not yet been convened.
30. Immigration. The Immigration Law was adopted by the National Assembly
between 22 and 26 August 1994. The activities carried out by the centre to
assist the Government in drafting this law are described in the Special
Representative's report to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-
first session. 6/ The law was also the subject of extensive
representations between the Governments of Cambodia and Viet Nam. At the
request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ms. Sadako
Ogata, the Secretary-General intervened in order to seek assurances that
the law would be implemented in a manner consistent with the international
conventions to which Cambodia is a party. The Prime Ministers and the
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia have assured the Secretary-General
that no unilateral action would be taken and that collective or mass
expulsions of ethnic Vietnamese from Cambodia would not occur. After the
adoption of the law, the Centre also prepared a review of the text with
suggested amendments which was shared with the Government by the Special
Representative, who made his recommendations known to the Government. The
Ministry of Interior then requested assistance from the Centre in drafting
subordinate legislation and advice in implementation consistent with
international human rights norms. The Centre accordingly assigned a
consultant specializing in immigration law to work with the Ministry; this
collaboration began in May 1995. At the time of preparation of the present
report, the consultant is continuing to assist the Ministry of Interior and
is receiving very good cooperation. Training programmes relating to
minorities, immigration and related matters are being planned for the
relevant officials of the Ministry of Interior.
31. The Centre continues to assist in the implementation of the
Immigration Law and the policies and practices relating to ethnic
minorities, particularly as they relate to ethnic Vietnamese, in
cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) and NGOs, and, where necessary, has communicated
recommendations to the Government.
32. As recommended by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
for human rights in Cambodia, the Centre has also worked in close liaison
with the Ministry of Interior on the issue of the internally displaced
ethnic Vietnamese at Chrey Thom, along the Cambodian-Vietnamese border. As
explained in previous reports, 7/ the Special Representative visited Chrey
Thom twice and made several oral and written recommendations to encourage
the Government to solve the problem. The Centre has been informed about
the actions taken by the Government. The Co-Ministers of Interior visited
Chrey Thom. Cambodia and Viet Nam issued a joint communique in January
1995 following the first visit to Hanoi by the Cambodian First Prime
Minister. Problems discussed included the status in Cambodia of persons of
Vietnamese origin and of Cambodian refugees in Viet Nam, border issues and
mutual cooperation. The communique called for the orderly resolution of
the Chrey Thom case-load. The two Governments set up a bilateral working
group to discuss and settle those issues which met in March and July 1995.
On 13 July 1995, 90 persons (13 families) from the some 2,500 stranded in
Chrey Thom since early 1993 were allowed by the Royal Government to return
to their former place of residence in Cambodia as they could show documents
showing long-term residence in Cambodia prior to 1970. The Department of
Immigration is identifying other families that are entitled to return to
Cambodia.
33. Press. The Press Law was debated by the National Assembly between 26
June and 18 July 1995. The law, as adopted on 18 July 1995, contains many
positive elements which had earlier been commented upon favourably by the
Centre, such as prohibition of pre-publication censorship, confidentiality
of sources, freedom of information, privileges for publication of public
records and other materials, establishment of more than one press
association, a code of ethics for the press and the prohibition of
incitement to violence.
34. His Majesty King Sihanouk had several times in the past expressed his
view that the criminal sanctions against journalists in the draft law
should be deleted. This view had been supported by the Chairman of the
National Assembly, Mr. Chea Sim. The First Prime Minister had also
publicly called for the amendment of the draft and supported the position
of the King. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General also
wrote to the Government several times during the last year and a half
expressing his concerns about the draft press law (see A/50/681, paras. 44-
47, 77-78 and annex II, HR REC. 24/94 and 7/95). The Minister of
Information and members of the National Assembly had been receiving
delegations and had listened to their representations, which included
recommendations made by the Special Representative. As a result, jail
terms had been withdrawn from many provisions of the draft law. Numerous
appeals had been made by international human rights and press organizations
urging the National Assembly and the Government to make the press law less
restrictive.
35. The Centre assisted in the drafting and review of the draft and gave
its comments from early 1994 to the time of adoption of the law. It worked
very closely and recommended changes to the draft law with the Government,
members of the National Assembly, the Cambodian and foreign press, NGOs and
the diplomatic community. A description of the main human rights concerns
raised by the Press Law as adopted by the National Assembly is contained in
the report of the Special Representative (ibid., paras. 44-47).
36. The Centre has also continued its activities to assist in the
implementation of former laws relating to the press, including the
Transitional Provisions relating to the Judiciary and Criminal Law and
Procedure Applicable in Cambodia during the Transitional Period, which
continues to be in force. It has done so in connection with several cases
involving restrictions on freedom of expression and - consistent with its
mandate to assist the Government in the implementation legislation for the
protection and promotion of human rights - has communicated its
recommendation to and advised the Government about many of these cases
(ibid., paras. 44-47 and 77-78).
37. Women. The Cambodian Women's Code was submitted by the State
Secretariat for Women's Affairs to the Council of Ministers in June 1995.
The Women's Code is a comprehensive compilation of the basic guarantees
relating to the protection of women's rights in the areas of non-
discrimination, labour, criminal law and procedure and family law. The
Code is based on the Cambodian Constitution, Cambodian laws including the
State of Cambodia (SOC) family law, labour law, the criminal procedure
code, the Supreme National Council Transitional Provisions, recent advances
in the area of women's rights legislation in other countries, particularly
neighbouring ones, and international conventions relating to human rights
and labour, to which Cambodia is a party.
38. The Centre had assisted the State Secretariat, at its request, in
reviewing and redrafting an earlier draft which had been prepared by a
consultant from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in
early 1994. The process of review took almost one year. Weekly meetings
were held regularly with an inter-ministerial committee set up specially
for the purpose. Several local non-governmental organizations attended the
meetings. Copies of the draft were given to the United Nations Children's
Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women
in New York for comments and observations. Discussions were held with
interested non-governmental organizations in order to make known the
provisions of the draft law.
39. The Centre will continue to assist the State Secretariat in the
legislative process successively through the Council of Ministers and the
National Assembly. The Centre has also assisted the State Secretariat with
comments on other laws relating to women, such as the draft law on
kidnapping and prostitution. The State Secretariat has also submitted to
the Council of Ministers a draft law on trafficking in and prostitution of
children, which had been prepared in 1994 by local NGOs and the State
Secretariat, with the assistance of the Centre.
40. Prisons. Several meetings were held with concerned officials at the
Ministry of Interior, including officials in charge of prisons, on
legislation on the rules and regulations governing prisons. At present
there are no detailed rules relating to the administration and management
of prisons and the rights of prisoners. With the technical assistance of
the Centre, a set of draft prison rules was revised in order to prepare
prison rules and regulations which are in conformity with Cambodia's
international human rights obligations and consistent with the prevailing
problems facing prisons and prisoners in Cambodia. A first draft has been
reviewed, initially by the Ministry of Interior and is now under discussion
with the concerned officials.
41. At the request of the Ministry of Interior, the Centre has also
assisted in the preparation of a law on prisons. This draft is currently
under discussion in the Ministry. The law will enable the adoption of
prison regulations by the Ministry of Interior. Consultations with
concerned parties, including NGOs, have been planned as follow-up measures.
42. The Centre continues to work closely with the Ministry of Interior on
the issue of prisons. A draft medical protocol for prison visits is
currently being reviewed by the Ministry. After its approval, the
provisions of the protocol should be made known to the non-governmental
organizations and laid down as guidelines for prison visits.
43. At the request of the Ministry of Interior, the Centre has also
approved the funding from its regular budget for a consultant to explore
the feasibility of implementing non-custodial options in Cambodia, as a way
to reduce overcrowding in prisons. The Centre also assists in emergency
situations such as water scarcity, including by recommendations to
interested donors for providing assistance. Through its provincial
officers, it has carried out a mapping of the inmates in Siem Reap prison,
supplemented food rations for prisoners in Kampong Cham prison through an
agreement with the local World Food Programme (WFP) office and funded
vocational training for female prisoners in Kampong Cham prison. The
Centre was also consulted on prisons by several bilateral donors, including
AUSAID (Australia). The Centre is currently planning a country-wide
training programme for prison officials in the new prison regulations and
the law when they are adopted, in cooperation with the Ministry of
Interior. The Centre also continues to visit prisons to assist in the
implementation of international human rights norms relating to prisons.
44. Trafficking and prostitution of human beings. Cambodia is a party to
the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the provisions of which have
been given State protection under article 48 of the Constitution.
Trafficking in and sale of children and the exploitation by prostitution of
children have been on the increase in Cambodia according to non-
governmental organizations and other concerned persons. The NGOs requested
the assistance of the Centre in preparing suggestions for criminalizing the
sexual exploitation and abuse of children and the trafficking, abduction
and sale of children, for submission to the Government and the National
Assembly. Under the existing penal code, there are no specific provisions
on the basis of which prosecutions can be launched for any of these
offences relating to children. The Centre therefore assisted in the
preparation of a draft law on the abolition of trafficking in and
prostitution of children. The draft was also reviewed and supported by
UNICEF and was presented by the State Secretariat for Women's Affairs to
the Council of Ministers. It has also been brought by the NGOs to the
attention of the Ministry of Justice in order to assist in the drafting of
the new penal code. In cooperation with the NGOs, the Centre has also been
monitoring the sale, forced prostitution and trafficking of children (see
also A/50/681, paras. 53-57 and 82 (g)).
45. The Centre has also provided comments on another law relating to
kidnapping and trafficking and exploitation of human persons that is
currently pending before the National Assembly.
46. Nationality. A draft nationality law has been pending before the
Council of Ministers since late 1994. At the request of the Ministry of
Interior, the Centre has provided detailed comments on and suggestions for
revisions to the draft. The lack of a nationality law has given rise to
concerns both within and outside Cambodia about the possibility of abuse in
the implementation of the Immigration Law, which cannot be fully
implemented in the absence of a definition of "Cambodian citizen". Several
meetings have been held with concerned officials of the Ministry of
Interior and with concerned Cambodian NGOs on the need to adopt, as soon as
possible, a nationality law consistent with the Constitution and relevant
United Nations conventions ratified by Cambodia.
47. Associations. The need for a specific and clear law relating to non-
governmental organizations arises from the lack of any legal provisions on
the registration, validity, rights and obligations of associations. The
existing rules include a decision by the Supreme National Council during
the transitional period and several recent orders by the Ministry of
Interior which have allegedly given rise to abuse of power by provincial
officials, a confusion about the rights and obligations of associations and
an atmosphere of fear among NGOs. At the request of a group of local and
international NGOs and with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation,
the Centre provided suggestions for a model law on associations.
48. The Centre also continues to work with local authorities to assist in
the exercise of the right to freedom of association of these non-
governmental organizations in the framework of the Constitution and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
49. The legal profession. The Law on the Bar Association was adopted by
the National Assembly between 16 May and 15 June 1995. It provides for the
establishment of the legal profession and the Bar Association and the
criteria for admission to the Bar, qualifications to practice, disciplinary
actions against members of the Bar and a transitional period for the
establishment of the first Bar Association. At the invitation of several
commissions and members of the National Assembly, the Centre provided
comments and suggestions for amendments. The recommendations by the Centre
included one concerning the independence of the legal profession and the
Defenders (ibid., paras. 32-34, and annex II, HR REC 5/95).
50. Criminal procedure. A draft of the new code of criminal procedure has
been shown to the Centre by the Ministry of Justice for its comments. The
Centre is currently considering the draft code and will submit its comments
and suggestions to the Ministry in the near future.
51. Electoral issues. At the request of several members of the National
Assembly, the Centre analysed the legal provisions relating to the
potential removal of members of the National Assembly in the light of
existing legislation - the Constitution, the Electoral law, and the UNTAC
Electoral Law - and international conventions (ibid., paras. 44-47).
52. Mines. The Government has taken a decision to outlaw the use, import
and sale of land-mines in Cambodia. The Centre was requested to assist in
the drafting of a law on land-mines to achieve these objectives and has
been working with government officials, UNHCR, the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC), and de-mining and humanitarian agencies concerned
and relevant non-governmental organizations in the preparation of a draft
law. The draft is currently under consideration by the relevant officials
(ibid., paras. 59-64).
53. Law on the outlawing of the Khmer Rouge. The Centre has been working
to assist in the implementation of the Law on the outlawing of the Khmer
Rouge. Information is being gathered on defectors, the amnesty policy,
arrests and prosecutions of individuals under the law, and treatment of
convicted persons in prisons.
54. Other activities. The Centre has been requested to provide assistance
in reviewing the draft labour law, which has been reviewed by the
International Labour Organization (ILO), and the draft law on corruption.
Owing to lack of adequate resources, these drafts can be considered only at
a later stage.
55. In addition, the Centre has also been establishing databases on the
implementation of other human rights-related laws with a view to providing
the Government with relevant information on human rights norms and laws;
this would be particularly useful for the inter-ministerial subcommittees
in charge of preparing reports on the implementation of international
conventions to which Cambodia has acceded.
56. The Centre also continues to assist non-governmental organizations
interested in the legislative reform process, at their request, with advice
on the human rights aspects of laws and their implementation in a manner
consistent with international human rights norms.
2. Assistance in the development and strengthening
of national institutions
57. The Centre has provided financial assistance to the secretariat of the
inter-ministerial committee on reporting obligations, chaired by the
Minister of Justice and of the subcommittees in charge of preparing the
reports of Cambodia to the Committee on Human Rights, the Committee on the
Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination. UNICEF has also contributed financially to the above
secretariat, in particular to assist the subcommittee on the Convention on
the Rights of the Child. If the Government so requests, such assistance
could be extended in 1996 to reporting obligations under the Convention
against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women, to all of which Cambodia has also acceded.
58. The Centre has facilitated the provision of US$ 10,000 from AUSAID for
a research and library facility in the Ministry of Interior. The
establishment of this facility, which will be carried out by a Cambodian
non-governmental organization, VIGILANCE, will enhance the capacity of the
Ministry of Interior, which has responsibility for drafting and
implementing key human rights-related legislation.
59. Advice and assistance continues to be provided to the Cambodian
Commission on Human Rights and Reception of Complaints of the National
Assembly by the Centre in its day-to-day functioning. The United Nations
Commission on Human Rights, in paragraph 8 (b) of its resolution 1994/61
has identified financial assistance for the National Assembly Human Rights
Commission as a priority area. The First Prime Minister has on several
occasions acknowledged the important role of the Commission and the need
for financial assistance to expand its activities to the provinces. In
order to increase the capacity of the National Assembly Human Rights
Commission to monitor the human rights situation, a grant has been given
under the Trust Fund to an NGO to assist the Commission (see annex II B)
and act as a liaison between the Commission and competent local and
international NGOs. Funding has also been provided to another non-
governmental organization for parliamentary support, including educational
and information activities (ibid.). Upon the invitation of the Commission,
the Centre participated as an observer in a fact-finding mission to Siem
Reap Province in December 1994. The Centre has advised several donor
agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to
secure funding for the proper functioning of the Commission and has also
requested the contribution of financial assistance to the Commission from
several bilateral development assistance agencies.
60. The Centre is also working with UNDP to secure funding for several
national institutions and increasing their capacity in areas such as
forensic facilities, rehabilitation of courts and assistance to the
National Assembly. Upon a recommendation by the Centre, financial
assistance has been provided by the Australian Embassy in Cambodia for the
rehabilitation of the court in Siem Reap Province. The Centre is also
soliciting from other donors funding for the rehabilitation of existing
Cambodian prisons, which are in disrepair and decay (see also A/50/681,
paras. 39-43).
61. Several briefings have also been given upon request by bilateral
agencies, including donors such as SIDA, CIDA, AIDAB, USAID, Asia
Foundation, as well as the United States General Accounting Office, the
United States State Department and members of the diplomatic corps. Those
meetings had as their purpose to assess human rights technical assistance
needs and suggestions for funding and other activities in the area of
assistance to national institutions, including legal structures and
capacity-building.
3. Administration of justice
62. Judicial Mentors Programme. The Centre has started implementing the
Judicial Mentors Programme, which had been devised in close consultation
with the Ministry of Justice, and enjoys the Ministry's full support.
Under this project, which began in June 1995, five consultants are being
placed in provincial Courts and coordinated from Phnom Penh by a
Coordinator. Initially, five provinces will be covered for a period of six
months, extension being contingent upon further funding and an evaluation
of the effectiveness of the Programme as formulated and implemented. The
consultants will primarily assist the courts in implementing legislation in
conformity with United Nations human rights conventions to which Cambodia
has acceded. Two judicial mentors started working at the provincial
tribunals of Siem Reap and Kampong Speu. The Judicial Mentors Programme is
being coordinated with another project for judicial training being
implemented by the International Human Rights Law Group.
63. Documentation. In the absence of copies of the laws in force, the
judges and other officials are finding it difficult to perform their
duties. The Centre has therefore compiled a set of all Cambodian laws
currently in force in the area of administration of justice. These
compilations, in Khmer and English, have been given by the Centre's
provincial officers to provincial officials, judges and prosecutors in
Battambang, Siem Reap and Kampong Cham. More copies will be printed for
circulation to other provinces.
64. At the completion of a 12-month research and training programme in
Cambodian prisons, a comprehensive report titled "The state of Cambodian
prisons" was completed and issued in January 1995.
65. Legal training. The Centre for Human Rights has carried out a number
of activities aimed at assisting Cambodia in establishing a system for the
administration of justice consistent with international human rights norms.
Training sessions were conducted for judges, prosecutors, prison officials
and gendarmes. 8/
66. A seminar on prison reform attended by deputy governors, prison
directors, police commissioners and judicial officials, together with
several international experts, discussed the findings of the Centre for
Human Rights report on "The state of Cambodian prisons" and issues related
to prison reform in Cambodia. Following the seminar, the Department of
Prisons of the Ministry of Interior requested the Centre to assist in the
preparation of a draft prison law and worked collaboratively on a set of
draft prison rules (see paras. 40-43 above).
67. In February, the Ministry of Defence and the Centre arranged a series
of human rights training workshops for members of the military, the
Military Assistance Programme. Participants consisted of 40 high-ranking
military officers learning basic teaching techniques/skills in order to
teach other military officers and their subordinates on the application of
international human rights law and international humanitarian law and rule
of law in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. The first of these workshops
was held at the Ministry of Defence in Phnom Penh, in February. Also
arranged with the Ministry of Defence is a series of human rights training
sessions which provide an introduction to human rights at the Senior
Military Officers School in Phnom Penh for approximately 180 military
officers. The first one of these series was held in February. In March,
May and June three other training seminars were held: in the Fifth
Military Region in Battambang Province; the Fourth Military Region in Siem
Reap Province and the Second Military Region in Kampong Cham Province, with
the assistance of the Centre's Provincial Offices.
68. A human rights workshop was conducted at the Gendarmerie School in
Phnom Penh in February, examining human rights norms for policing.
69. A human rights training workshop was held for the staff of the newly
developed Youth Rehabilitation Centre, concentrating on ICRC and the
Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
70. Future scheduled workshops include human rights training for lawyers
being trained by the Ministry of Justice and judicial human rights training
for trainee judges, also at the Ministry of Justice. Another scheduled
workshop is in collaboration with the Naval Justice School of the United
States, on armed forces on disciplined military operations and human rights
for officers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
71. A human rights training workshop was conducted in April 1995 in Siem
Reap for commune leaders in April 1995 with the assistance of the Centre's
provincial office. A seminar was held in May on the Constitution of
Cambodia for the staff of the provincial court and a lecture was given on
human rights for the medical profession, for the doctors of the Provincial
Hospital.
72. Two human rights training workshops for the Military Police were
conducted in Kampong Cham in April with the assistance of the Centre's
provincial office. Human rights training workshops were also conducted for
30 commune leaders, deputy commune leaders and commune militia chiefs and
for 27 chiefs, deputy chiefs and police officers. Both workshops were held
in Cheung Prey district. In June, a human rights training workshop was
conducted for the chiefs of commune and the chiefs of commune militia in
Bateay District.
73. In Battambang, with the assistance of the Centre's provincial office,
a lecture was given for 40 police officers on making an arrest while
applying domestic and international human rights law. A lecture was given
to 25 guards at Battambang prison on the Convention Against Torture and
other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In cooperation
with the NGO Khmer Institute for Democracy, lectures were given on the
topic "What are human rights?" and the Convention on the Rights of the
Child to local authorities, police and teachers.
74. On 14 and 15 December 1994, a seminar on human rights, law and
democracy was held for the senior staff members of the Ministry of
Interior, particularly the Department of Legislation; it was funded by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). On 15 and 16 February 1995,
a seminar was organized by the office for senior officers of the Ministry
of Interior on "Law drafting and human rights". The Centre conducted two
consultations on law drafting and the principles behind a draft law on
associations for officials of the Ministry of Interior on 2 and 3 August
1995.
75. On 24 and 29 March, 17 May and 11 July 1995, lectures were given on
"Rule of law" at the office of the Khmer Institute for Democracy (KID) for
senior law students of the Phnom Penh faculty.
76. On 5 May 1995, the Centre participated in the training of journalists
with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), as part of the Joint Initiative for Training in Ethics and
Defamation (JITED) at the Ministry of Information. Two lectures were given
by staff members on Cambodian law and freedom of the press and
international and comparative law relating to freedom of the press. The
Centre also participated in a regional conference for the Asia and the
Pacific on Media and Government relations, hosted by the Khmer Journalists
Association (KJA) and sponsored by the International Federation of
Journalists and UNESCO from 24 to 27 June 1995. A Centre staff member was
also on one of the panels.
77. On 15 May and 9 June, briefings were given on human rights and
Cambodian judiciary at an orientation programme for the International Human
Rights Law Group consultants for the judiciary.
78. On 25 May, a briefing was given for the defenders of CHARTO on the
Cambodian legal system.
79. Other activities. The Centre has also attended preparatory
meetings for the Third International Conference on the Reconstruction of
Cambodia, particularly relating to the legal and institutional structure
needed for a market economy at the request of the Cambodian Development
Council. The Centre has provided advice on relevant issues, such as labour
law and the judiciary, which are essential components of the legal and
institutional structures needed for a market economy.
80. On 7 July, the Cambodia office received a delegation of Japanese
representatives from the United Nations Centre for Regional Development,
the School of Law of Nagoya University and the Japan Jurists League. The
discussion concerned the support the Office has given and will continue to
give to the effort of the United Nations Centre for Regional Development
and the Law School to provide short-term and special training courses to
Cambodians in the field of law. Suggestions were made during the meeting
that such training programmes should include a curriculum for international
human rights norms, in particular the international covenants and
conventions to which Cambodia has acceded, and that emphasis also be put on
the training of police and judges. Support for the programmes was
considered important since, in the long run, such efforts could serve as a
catalyst for a broader development and cooperation between Cambodia and
Japan in the field of legal and human rights education.
4. Treaty reporting and international obligations
81. Since May 1994, Cambodia has started to prepare reports under the
various United Nations human rights conventions to which it has acceded.
An inter-ministerial committee, a permanent secretariat and two
subcommittees have been created to report on the implementation of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on
the Rights of the Child. 9/ Technical and financial assistance have been
provided to the Government by the Centre and UNICEF (see paras. 57-61
above).
82. On 26 January 1995, the Special Representative of the Secretary-
General for human rights in Cambodia met with the members of the Inter-
Ministerial Committee. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Justice,
who is also chairing the Committee. The Special Representative commended
the progress made so far and encouraged the Government to submit the first
two reports as soon as possible and to start reporting on the other
conventions (see also A/50/681, paras. 58 and 83).
83. The Inter-Ministerial Committee discussed the draft report written by
the subcommittee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights from March 1995 to June 1995. The reporting and review process was
delayed for various reasons, such as the lack of experience in drafting
such reports for the first time, the difficulty in collecting relevant and
reliable information and documentation and the lack of availability of
senior government officials at the Inter-Ministerial Committee's level.
The draft is now awaiting the final approval of the Council of Ministers
before submission to the Human Rights Committee.
84. Concerning the report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
the Centre has provided the subcommittee on that convention with advisory
assistance as well as some documents and relevant information. Since March
1995, a human rights reporting officer has been provided to the Centre by
UNV for one year, to continue to assist the subcommittee, which has also
been helped in its work by the NGO Committee on the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, specifically created to help the Government as well as
to write an NGO report. The subcommittee finished drafting the report at
the beginning of April, and the draft is awaiting revision by the Inter-
Ministerial Committee. The final version was expected to be available in
mid-September 1995.
85. In April, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Reporting established a
new subcommittee to draft the report of Cambodia on the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. At
its forty-sixth session, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination decided to examine the implementation of the Convention in
Cambodia at its forty-seventh session on 11 August. On 20 April, the
Director of the Centre attended the first meeting of this subcommittee in
order to briefly present the Convention and the expectation of the
Committee. The Subcommittee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
decided to meet twice a week. It had difficulties in gathering relevant
information and data. The Centre is providing it with advisory assistance,
through the UNV reporting officer, and with documents and relevant
information. As the Subcommittee has not finished drafting the report, the
Government requested the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination to postpone its examination of Cambodia until its next
session, in the beginning of 1996, to which the Committee agreed. The
report of Cambodia is therefore due by 31 December 1995.
5. Education for human-rights and teacher training
86. In collaboration with the Cambodian Institute of Human Rights, the
Centre has continued to support the development of human rights curricula
for years 1 to 11 of the Cambodian school system. The Centre had 5,000
copies of the ABC Human Rights book printed in Khmer to be used by teachers
at the primary-school level. The Centre has delivered several lectures at
the Institute on the Constitution and United Nations international
conventions to representatives of Cambodian NGOs, jurists, law students,
schoolteachers and monks as well as to participants in workshops and
training sessions on the topic "Human rights teaching methodology in
primary and secondary schools".
87. In April 1995, a lecture on "What are human rights?" was given for 60
highschool and primary-schoolteachers during a seminar held by the Khmer
Institute for Democracy (KID).
88. Moreover, UNESCO, with some support from the Centre, is developing a
curriculum on social studies at the secondary level which will include
human rights aspects.
89. Over the past seven months, the Centre has developed and structured
human rights curricula for use by NGOs and the Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces. Examples of such curricula include: human rights training by non-
governmental organizations; combined human rights/non-governmental
organizations police training programme; investigation and monitoring
guidelines for non-governmental organizations; definitions of human rights
violations; and the Military Assistance Programme.
90. A curriculum has been developed for the judicial human rights training
workshop to be conducted by representatives of the Centre at the Ministry
of Justice.
91. Activities of the Centre in education of Buddhist monks has included:
(a) upon an invitation of the Cambodian Institute of Human Rights, lectures
to the teachers of monks at the Ministry of Religious Affairs; and (b)
lectures in several pagodas for the monks on the relationship between
Buddhist precepts and human rights, within the framework of the programme
on teaching skills and training for Buddhist elementary teachers throughout
Cambodia, organized by the Institute in April and May 1995. Additionally,
during July and August 1995, a curriculum for non-governmental
organizations on human rights training of monks was developed.
92. In Siem Reap Province, a human rights poster contest was held in May
1995 with the cooperation of the provincial governor, the State Secretariat
for Women's Affairs, the Vice-Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights
and Reception of Complaints of the National Assembly, provincial officers
of human rights and children's rights non-governmental organizations, the
Ministry of Education and the provincial office of the Centre. Copies of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Khmer were distributed to each
of the 61 participating schools and commented upon by the teachers to help
the students select their topics. The quality of the drawings was found to
be excellent by the jury. The top 100 entries were put on display. The
four senior winners went to Phnom Penh and met government officials,
visited the National Assembly, and met with human rights organizations and
the Director of the Cambodia office. The Canada Fund and provincial
branches of human rights and children's rights non-governmental
organizations provided the funds to hold the contest.
6. Support to non-governmental organizations and civil society
93. There are more than 30 Cambodian human rights non-governmental
organizations. About 10 of them have developed experience in the field of
protection, monitoring and education in human rights.
94. Several dealing with more specialized issues, such as women's rights,
children's rights, minorities' rights or the rights of the accused. Some
have also integrated development and social issues into their activities.
10/ Groups of non-governmental organizations have been created to increase
cooperation and mutual assistance, such as: Ponleu Khmer, a federation
which focuses on lobbying on social and political issues; the Human Rights
Task Force on Cambodia, a coalition of international and local non-
governmental organizations that provides training and advisory services to
local NGOs; the Cambodian Human Rights Coordination Committee which
regroups 15 local organizations which diffuse information on NGOs
activities; and the Human Rights Action Committee, a group of eight
organizations that monitors urgent human rights violations and has branches
in several provinces.
95. Human Rights Day, 10 December, is an official holiday in Cambodia. A
group of 30 human rights non-governmental organizations and ministries
organized a celebration of the Day at the Olympic Stadium for thousands of
participants, including monks, nuns, schoolchildren, as well as members of
the governmental and the diplomatic corps. The Centre contributed to the
funding of the event, and the Director of the Cambodia office addressed the
celebration.
96. Upon the invitation of KID, on 6 June 1995, the Director of the office
also addressed the Conference to celebrate the International Year of
Tolerance organized by KID, at which a letter of support from His Majesty
the King was read and speeches were also delivered by the Second Prime
Minister, the Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Culture, the
Director of the UNESCO office and the representative of UNHCR.
97. Despite real progress, non-governmental organizations still need
further training and technical assistance to increase their competence and
their ability to carry out both protection and promotional activities
effectively. They are still fragile, especially at the provincial level.
Those of them working on human rights protection still need to be further
strengthened and protected.
98. Local non-governmental organizations have consistently expressed their
appreciation for the support provided to their activities by the Centre in
a phase of consolidation of democracy in Cambodia. The Centre has been
able to provide them with daily advisory and consultative services,
training and education in human rights. Meetings with human rights non-
governmental organizations are taking place on a regular basis to discuss
various human rights issues, to exchange information and to find the
appropriate way to deal with certain cases. 11/ This form of assistance to
NGOs is also being provided in Battambang, Kampong Cham and Siem Reap
through the Centre provincial offices. Specific training activities for
NGOs have included the following:
-In December 1994, a human rights workshop was conducted for the
Cambodian Defenders Project on training new Defenders in international
human rights law;
- In January 1995, a workshop was held for the Vietnamese Association and
Ligue cambodgienne pour la promotion et la defense des droits de l'homme
(LICADHO) on how to conduct interviews and draft reports. A lecture was
given to human rights trainers of Outreach, upgrading their training
techniques;
-In March 1995, a workshop for Vigilance was held on upgrading its
abilities in conducting monitoring and investigation;
-The Combined Human Rights Non-governmental Organizations Police Training
Programme workshop was conducted in Phnom Penh; the workshop aimed at
training Cambodian non-governmental organizations, including ADHOC,
LICADHO, Vigilance and Outreach, in teaching a common, core human rights
course for police throughout Cambodia;
-Lectures were organized by KID and given by the Centre on the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment for the NGO Victim Contribution Assistance Organization; and on
the Convention on the Rights of the Child, for the Children's Development
Association in Cambodia;
-In May 1995, a workshop was conducted for human rights trainers of
CHARTO with the technical assistance of the Centre on upgrading their
training techniques, and a round-table discussion was held for Cambodian
human rights non-governmental organizations at the European Union office,
reviewing NGOs' training methodology and coordination;
-In June 1995, a squatters' rights workshop was held for the Urban Sector
Group, training its members to teach squatters about their rights. A
workshop on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination was conducted by the Centre for Khmer Kampuchea Krom
Human Rights Association (KKKHRA). A lecture was given on children's
rights to LICADHO and the Cambodian Centre for the Protection of Children's
Rights;
-In Siem Reap, the provincial liaison and support officer assisted
LICADHO in a human rights training session for the police. On 26 June, the
Centre's provincial office commemorated with human rights non-governmental
organizations the signing of the Charter of the United Nations and its
significance for promoting and protecting human rights;
-On 26 June, the Cambodia office commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of
the signing of the Charter of the United Nations and its significance for
promoting and protecting human rights by inviting all Cambodian human
rights non-governmental organizations to the Cambodia office and discussing
those Articles of the Charter relevant to human rights;
-In July, three months after ADHOC, LICADHO, Vigilance and Outreach were
trained in applying the common-core human rights curriculum for police
training, an assessment workshop was held to review the teaching techniques
when applying this curriculum.
99. The Centre has also provided assistance to several non-governmental
organizations working on children's issues. It has regularly attended the
monthly meetings of the Child Welfare Group, composed of more than 40
competent organizations. The Centre has assisted the NGO Committee on the
Convention of the Rights of the Child, composed of nine organizations
elected by the non-governmental community. It assists the governmental
subcommittee on the Convention on the Rights of the Child in its work of
drafting the report of Cambodia (see paras. 84-88). It also drafts its own
report to be sent to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the
Child and promotes and monitors the Convention in Cambodia.
100. The Centre has also provided technical support to the work of ECPAT,
dealing with the issue of trafficking in and prostitution of children.
With the collaboration of a consultant from ILO the Centre has also invited
a Thai non-governmental organization, the Centre for the Protection of
Children's Rights, which deals with child prostitution, to come to Phnom
Penh to meet the local non-governmental organizations dealing with
trafficking in children. The members of the Centre for the Protection of
Children's Rights explained their work and initiated contacts with
Cambodian organizations.
7. Human rights and the media
101. In May 1995, as part of the Joint Initiative for Training in Ethics
and Defamation (JITED), a seminar for Cambodian journalists on the
professional understanding of defamation and of international human rights
norms related to freedom of expression (rights and responsibilities) was
organized by UNESCO and the Centre at the Cambodian Communication Institute
at the Ministry of Information. The Minister delivered the opening speech.
Two lectures were given by staff of the Centre on Cambodian law, and
international and comparative law relating to freedom of the press.
8. Information and documentation
102. The Centre has continued to provide a variety of human rights
materials in Khmer, French and English to ministries, embassies, United
Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions and
journalists.
103. The following materials are the most common disseminated in Khmer by
the Centre: Constitution of Cambodia; Universal Declaration of Human
Rights; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Convention on the
Rights of the Child; International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination; Basic Principles on the Independence of the
Judiciary; Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; and Code
of Conduct of Law Enforcement Officials.
104. These materials are provided upon request or used as part of the
curricula for lectures, workshops and seminars. A total of 46 ministries,
embassies, United Nations agencies, institutions, non-governmental
organizations, journalists and other organizations have received these
materials, inter alia: Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, State
Secretariat for Women's Affairs, Faculty of Law, Cambodian Communication
Institute, UNDP, LICADHO, Cambodian Defenders' Association (CADEAS), Khmer
Buddhist Society.
105. On Human Rights Day, 10 December 1994, thousands of human rights
posters, brochures and stickers were distributed by the Centre to the
general public attending the Human Rights Day celebration organized by
Cambodian human rights non-governmental organizations.
106. The Centre provides a resource and video room for visitors, who can
also view videos produced by UNTAC or other human rights productions.
Within the coming months the office is planning to publish a monthly
newsletter describing the relevant activities of the Government, the
National Assembly, the Cambodian human rights non-governmental
organizations, United Nations agencies and the Centre.
9. Training of government officials
107. The Centre has funded a study trip for 19 Cambodian health officials
to Thailand to study AIDS prevention strategies adopted in that country.
The project was a joint initiative of several United Nations agencies,
including UNDP, WHO, UNICEF and the Centre for Human Rights, and followed
various recommendations of the Special Representative for Human Rights in
Cambodia towards strengthening the Cambodian response to the AIDS epidemic.
10. Visit of Ms. Graca Machel
108. UNICEF and the Centre for Human Rights, through its Cambodia office,
organized the visit to Cambodia, from 3 to 9 June 1995, of Ms. Graca
Machel, the Expert appointed by the Secretary-General to carry out a study
on the impact of armed conflict on children. During her visit, the Expert
met with the First Prime Minister and the two Co-Ministers of Defence, the
heads of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and the United
Nations resident coordinator, attended the land-mines conference in Phnom
Penh and made a field visit to Battambang Province. In Phnom Penh, the
Centre organized three meetings with Cambodian non-governmental
organizations, one with women's organizations, one with human rights and
children's rights organizations, and one with the NGO Committee on the
Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Centre also organized a working
session on children in armed conflict with UNHCR and ICRC, as well as a
meeting with Ambassadors. Finally, the Centre arranged a meeting with the
monk Non Nget in Pagoda Batom.
11. Overview of the Provincial Offices Network
109. In December 1993, as a follow-up to the work of the UNTAC Human
Rights Component on human rights education in the provinces, one of the
priorities which had been established in the Centre's programme of human
rights activities in Cambodia was the strengthening of human rights
activities at the local and provincial levels.
110. Implementation of the Provincial Network Programme was begun in
February 1995 by the opening of the Siem Reap office, followed by the
Kampong Cham office on 22 February 1995 and the Battambang office on 25
April 1995. Each office is run by a UNV Human Rights Officer who is
assisted by a local Human Rights Assistant. A UNV Provincial Network
Coordinator is based in Phnom Penh. The primary functions of the
provincial offices are to provide technical support, training and
information services to the provincial authorities, the judiciary, the
police, the military, local communities and the local non-governmental
organizations, as well as to assess technical assistance needs at the
provincial level.
111. At the time of preparation of the present report, many activities had
already taken place in each of the above-mentioned provinces, among which
the following are noteworthy:
(a) Siem Reap. Meetings with the police, military police and prison
authorities; human rights training for the police and gendarmerie (military
police) (see also paras. 69-80 above); dissemination of information to the
local community; community activities such as a human rights posters
contest organized for the primary and secondary school students (see paras.
89-95 above); work with the Siem Reap Tribunal; dissemination of
compilations of international instruments and Cambodian laws to the
community leaders; visits to the prison;
(b) Kampong Cham. Human rights training for senior police officers and
gendarmerie; meetings with judges; meetings with Provincial Civil
Administration; reporting on the situation of unaccompanied children;
sewing training programme for female detainees; visits to the prison;
meetings with the local human rights non-governmental organizations. This
provincial office received much support from UNHCR;
(c) Battambang. Meetings with judicial, police and gendarmerie
authorities; human rights training for the police; visits to camps of
internally displaced persons; human rights training for villagers; training
on the rights of the child; meetings with human rights non-governmental
organizations; visits to the prison.
112. Additional provincial offices will be opened depending on the
availability of funds.
D. Administrative, financial and other matters
113. The budget for 1994-1995 for a continued United Nations human rights
presence in Cambodia (see A/C.5/48/78) was approved by the Fifth Committee
of the General Assembly on 22 July 1994 without a vote (see A/48/811/Add.4,
paras. 9-11). The General Assembly, in its resolution 49/199 of 23
December 1994, requested the Secretary-General to ensure adequate
resources, from within existing United Nations resources, for the enhanced
functioning of the operational presence in Cambodia of the Centre for Human
Rights of the Secretariat.
114. Most of the administrative problems identified in the previous report
to the General Assembly (see A/49/635/Add.1, paras. 59-71) have been
resolved. For instance, an increase of the imprest account (from $100,000
to $275,000 for three months was approved and implemented in June 1995.
This has improved the operation of the Cambodia office and programmes,
which had increased considerably with the enhanced functioning of the
operational presence in the provinces, e.g., the Provincial Offices Network
and the Judicial Mentors Network. Both local and international staff of
the Cambodia office have been provided with more secure contractual
conditions and payment of salaries is being made without delay. All other
operational and programme expenses are met promptly.
115. Despite these improvements, a number of structural difficulties
remain, owing to the absence of appropriate administrative and financial
autonomy of the Centre for Human Rights (a part of the United Nations
Secretariat) and, in turn, its Cambodia office. Decision-making power on
these issues ultimately lies with Administrative and Financial Services of
the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The lack of proper
administrative support by the Centre (owing to lack of resources) and UNOG,
or, alternatively, appropriate delegation of authority in these matters to
the Cambodia office negatively affect the smooth operation of the office
and the effective and timely implementation of the Centre's programme in
Cambodia.
116. The General Assembly, in its resolution 49/199, paragraph 1, and the
Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 1995/55, paragraph 1,
recognized the enhanced functioning of the operational presence of the
Centre for Human Rights in Cambodia, and requested the Secretary-General to
ensure adequate resources, from within existing United Nations resources.
117. In addition, the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights,
in the above-mentioned resolutions (paras. 6 and 7 respectively) requested
the Special Representative, in collaboration with the office in Cambodia of
the Centre, to undertake an evaluation of the extent to which the
recommendations made by the Special Representative in his reports, for
which no financial implications were provided in the budget for the
biennium 1994-1995, were followed up and implemented. In order to
implement that request, entailing a review of the extent to which all the
recommendations made since 1993 have been followed up or implemented, there
is a need for a consultant assisted by a local assistant-cum-interpreter.
III. ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM IN
THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA
118. The Vienna Declaration Programme of Action recommended an increased
coordination in support of human rights within the United Nations system.
12/ The Centre for Human Rights was to play an important role in
coordinating system-wide attention for human rights. The coordination of
the United Nations system in the field of human rights and the cooperation
received by the Centre are very satisfactory.
119. The representative of the Secretary-General in Cambodia, Mr. Benny
Widyono, whose mandate, under Security Council resolution 880 (1993), is to
maintain close liaison and dialogue with the Government in accordance with
the spirit and principles of the Paris agreements, to monitor the political
situation in Cambodia and report on significant developments relating to
peace and security, to report on his activities to the Secretary-General
through the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and to maintain
liaison and dialogue with the Resident Coordinator, the head of the Human
Rights Centre in Cambodia and other United Nations agencies.
120. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia convenes regular
meetings of the heads of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to
discuss questions of common interest and improve the cooperation with the
Government. The United Nations system in Cambodia includes the Resident
Coordinator, the representative of the Secretary-General in Cambodia, FAO,
the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations Centre for Human
Rights, UNDP, UNESCO, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNHCR,
UNICEF, UNV, WFP, WHO, as well as the ILO and United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) representatives for Cambodia in Bangkok.
Regular meetings are also organized for administrative officers in order to
exchange information and harmonize questions relating to finance,
personnel, administration, etc.
121. The meetings between the heads of agencies included the following
topics: disaster preparedness (flood alert, drought), humanitarian aid and
relief (food, assistance to displaced persons, etc.), security, HIV/AIDS,
gender issues, the rule of law, good governance, joint celebration of
United Nations days or years (on signing of the Paris agreements, human
rights, the child, children victims of aggression, eradication of poverty,
tolerance, women, refugees, peace, health, etc.). The United Nations
agencies, funds and programmes in Cambodia, including UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA,
UNICEF, UNV, WHO and the Centre for Human Rights have established a United
Nations/HIV/AIDS Technical Working Group to help coordinate and integrate
all efforts by these agencies, the Government and other concerned parties
to respond to the epidemic through a multi-sectoral, comprehensive and
coordinated approach. Initiatives of the Group have included: the cost-
sharing venture to finance a multi-sectoral AIDS study tour for concerned
Cambodian government officials in Thailand; encouragement to the Ministry
of Information to take a more active and creative approach in its efforts
to inform the Cambodian public; and improving the coordination between the
different United Nations agencies involved in combating the spread of the
virus. A resource manual, "Your United Nations", is being prepared by the
Cambodian Communication Institute to introduce the different United Nations
agencies, including the Centre for Human Rights to the Cambodian
journalists.
122. A joint statement of the United Nations resident representatives in
Cambodia was prepared and distributed on the occasion of the third
International Conference on the Reconstruction of Cambodia, held in Paris
in March 1995, and affirmed that the observance of human rights and the
maintenance of democracy and the rule of law would continue to feature
prominently throughout all of the United Nations support activities and
that specific advisory services and capacity-building support would
continue to be provided for such purposes as prison reform, training of the
judiciary and public education and information.
123. In General Assembly resolution 49/199, paragraph 20, and Commission
on Human Rights resolution 1995/55, paragraph 22, the Centre for Human
Rights was requested, in cooperation with the relevant specialized agencies
and development programmes, to develop and implement programmes, with the
consent and cooperation of the Government of Cambodia, in the priority
areas identified by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for
human rights in Cambodia, paying particular attention to women and
vulnerable groups, including children and minorities.
124. On 12 June 1995, the head of the Cambodia office of the Centre for
Human Rights informed the other heads about the Vienna Declaration and
Programme of Action and the relevant provisions of the resolutions of the
General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights. It was agreed that
all organizations would inform the Centre of their programmes and
activities related to human rights issues so that the Centre might inform
the General Assembly and the Commission in its reports.
125. The United Nations Resident Coordinator and the heads or senior
officers of UNDP, the United Nations Centre for Human Rights, UNFPA, UNHCR,
UNICEF, UNIDO and UNV Cambodia attended the fifteenth Workshop on the
Management of Field Coordination for Senior United Nations System
Representatives organized from 22 to 30 June 1995 at the ILO International
Training Centre in Turin. Three common objectives were identified by the
Cambodia team: elimination of poverty; strengthening the capacity of the
judiciary and the establishment of the rule of law by an improved
clarification and dissemination of law; and social regeneration by
promoting ethnic tolerance through development of interdisciplinary
research on ethnic groups, public awareness raising, special programmes to
introduce human rights and ethnic tolerance in school curricula.
126. At the time of preparation of the present report, ILO, UNDP, UNFPA,
UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP had provided the information which is presented
below.
127. ILO activities and projects include substantial consultancy services
to the Secretariat of State of Social Affairs, Labour and Veterans Affairs
in the drafting of a labour law with special emphasis on freedom of
association (ILO Convention No. 87); the Employment Generation Programme
for Cambodia composed of three projects: labour-based public works, small
enterprise and informal sector promotion and vocational training for
employment, mainly financed by UNDP, all of which give special attention to
women and disabled persons.
128. UNDP has developed a project on human rights teaching, methodology
and training for primary and secondary schools, also funded by the European
Union and Comite contre la faim et pour le developpement, which will allow
the Ministry of Education, with the assistance of the Cambodian Institute
of Human Rights, to develop curricula and produce training materials on
human rights to be integrated into the school programmes for grades 1 to 12
throughout Cambodia. An inter-ministerial committee was established by the
Government in 1994, with the support of UNDP and UNV, to promote highland
peoples' development as part of a sub-regional programme which will
reinforce mutual understanding and increased knowledge and skills regarding
highland peoples.
129. UNFPA programmes include: birth spacing services and information
(women's rights, right to information, right to health); family kits for
internally displaced persons (right to shelter, assistance, health and
protection); education on population and social science in secondary school
(including teaching of human rights and right to education); training on
advocacy for women in development (women's rights); media-led campaign on
AIDS and birth spacing; preparation of a national census/demographic
analysis (right to be recognized as a person before the law);
interdisciplinary studies on ethnic groups, minorities and indigenous
people (see also para. 130 below).
130. UNHCR has developed programmes for international protection and
assistance to refugees, voluntary returnees, internally displaced persons
and other persons of concern to the Office. These programmes include
assistance to: several hundred Cambodian refugees still residing in the
region who are expected to voluntarily repatriate; vulnerable returnees (to
promote self-sufficiency for vulnerable families through non-governmental
organizations counselling, incomegenerating activities, etc., in particular
for female-headed households - the larger grouping, for which long-term
solutions remain problematic); internally displaced persons, as a follow-up
to the military conflict (in cooperation with the Government, WFP and the
Cambodian Red Cross); displaced ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia who in 1993
fled by boat their traditional places of residence on Tonle Sap lake as a
result of persecution and who are now in a refugee-like situation, pending
a durable solution (in collaboration with the Government, WFP, the United
Nations Centre for Human Rights, Medecins du monde, the Cambodian Red Cross
and other partners). UNHCR is also conducting training, promotion and
advocacy on refugee law and other norms relating to asylum-seekers,
displaced persons and voluntary returnees and has initiated and partly
funded a project called "Interdisciplinary research on ethnic groups in
Cambodia" with the Preah Sihanouk Raj Academy, with the aim of identifying
problems relating to the integration of ethnic minority groups in Cambodian
society.
131. The UNICEF Plan of Operations 1996-2000 includes programmes on
protection and care of vulnerable children and women, basic education,
health care, social mobilization for rights and goals, food, water and
environment, community education and child care and capacity-building
focused on women and youth.
132. UNIDO in 1994 assisted in preparing a large-scale project for the
establishment of a food safety and quality control system in Cambodia,
which is planned for 1995-1997 subject to approval by donors.
133. UNV is contributing to the Provincial Offices Network of the Centre
by providing United Nations Volunteers who perform the function of Human
Rights Officer in charge of each provincial office (see paras. 111-117).
134. WFP is committed to the basic human rights of an estimated 2.2
million Cambodian people living in poverty to have protection from hunger
and malnutrition. For this purpose, WFP is conducting: poverty mapping
(to identify locations vulnerable to food insecurity because of floods
followed by drought); food aid and rehabilitation (2,400 village-based
development projects, rehabilitation, training, credit and emergency
relief); emergency assistance to villagers forced repeatedly to flee their
homes and farms in the north and north-west provinces (internally displaced
persons) because of military conflict; food-for-work schemes organized as
part of a resettlement programme, water supplies, sanitation or shelter at
their temporary locations; food aid since August 1993 to ethnic Vietnamese
families stranded at Chrey Thom, in cooperation with the Cambodian Red
Cross and UNHCR.
Notes
1/ E/CN.4/1994/73, paras. 229-271.
2/ E/CN.4/1995/87 and Add.1.
3/ E/CN.4/1994/73, paras. 252-271.
4/ A/49/63/Add.1, paras. 10-58.
5/ E/CN.4/1995/87, paras. 7-52.
6/ Ibid., para. 11.
7/ See E/CN.4/1995/87/Add.1.
8/ See also A/49/635/Add.1, paras. 19-28, and E/CN.4/1995/87, paras. 23-
25.
9/ See A/49/635/Add.1, paras. 29-33 and E/CN.4/1995/87, paras. 26-33.
10/ See A/49/635/Add.1, paras. 37-43, and E/CN.4/1995/87, paras. 39-
43.
11/ See E/CN.4/1995/87, para. 40.
12/ A/CONF.157/24, chap. II, sect. II.A, para. 1.
ANNEX I
Contributions to the Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education
Programme in Cambodia (as of 30 June 1995)
(In United States dollars)
Australia
35 555Iceland
35 714Luxembourg
31 384Norway
71 174Sweden
279 762 Total
453 589
ANNEX II
Expenditures under the Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education
Programme in Cambodia (as of 31 July 1995)
A. Assistance to the Cambodian Government
(In United States dollars)
Activity
Amount spent a/
Amount
committed
Advisory services on prison reform and seminar on prisons
16 409
Training and information activities
98 102Assistance in reporting obligations
17 400
Study trip for health officials to Thailand on AIDS prevention strategies
3 388
Provincial network
18 973
61 726Judicial Mentor Programme
23 426
151 374
Total
79 596
159 828
Grand total
239 424
a/ The amount indicated as "spent" had been disbursed as of 31 July
1995; the amount indicated as "committed" was being used for ongoing
projects.
B. Assistance to Cambodian non-governmental organizations
(In United States dollars)
Organizations
Amount approved
Brief description
Cambodian Institute of Human Rights
5 198
Translation into Khmer of the United Nations Manual on ReportingCambodian
Institute of Human Rights
46 100
Curriculum project on human rights educationCambodian Institute of Human
Rights
3 901
Translation into Khmer of the compilation of international human rights
instrumentsCambodian Human Rights Task Force (International Human Rights
Law Group)
65 000
Assistance to Cambodian NGOsInternational Catholic Migration Commission
39 074 (part I)
10 000 (part II)
Human rights education for women and communities (Battambang)Enfants du
Cambodge
800
Trauma relief: compensation to two widows whose husbands were killed as a
result of a PDK attackCHARTO
20 000
Human Rights Defender programme and training activities in the
provincesKKKHRA
10 000
Training and assistance programme for minoritiesParliamentary Organization
for Social Development
13 427
To support the National Assembly and to broaden popular participation in
the legislative processPonleu Khmer
6 000
Production of leaflets and newsletters on human rightsASCEND
15 000 (part I)
5 000 (part II)
Production of videos in Khmer on criminal justice issues, prisons, child
abuse and the handicappedCADEAS
5 000
Human Rights Defenders programmeVietnamese Association
5 500
Assistance to displaced ethnic VietnameseUrban Sector Group
29 328
To work with urban poor, particularly squatters on forced evictions and
housing rights issuesCambodian Women's Development Association
15 000
To work with marginalized women, particularly sex workersCambodian Human
Rights Information Organization
17 272
To act as a liaison between the National Assembly Human Rights Commission
and the local and international NGOs on human rights monitoring
Vigilance
10 000
To improve the ability of this large human rights organization's provincial
offices to provide investigation and monitoring servicesHuman Rights Task
Force on Cambodia
8 000
To strengthen the monitoring, networking and advocacy work of provincial
human rights groupsCambodian Institute of Human Rights
30 000
To print the previously prepared school human rights curriculum and
distribute it to 80,000 Cambodian teachersCambodian Human Rights
Coordination Committee
5 000
To help in the establishment of a coordinating group of nine human rights
groups and in particular to defray printing costs of a newsletterChildren's
Rights Project
22 000
To improve the capacity of a Khmer NGO to advocate and monitor the rights
of Cambodian childrenAction Committee
5 000
To help establish a committee of six NGOs to respond quickly to human
rights violationsVietnamese Association
10 000
To provide skilled technical support in the areas of investigation and
monitoring of human rights abuses against the Vietnamese minorityOutreach
10 000
To provide technical assistance to improve the research and report writing
skills of this organization on women's issuesLICADHO
15 000
Medical assistance in prisonsLICADHO
3 000
Publication of hygiene bookletsCHARTO
9 625
Human rights video and production on women's and children's rights to be
disseminated to human rights NGOsLCDHC
300
Celebration of Human Rights Day (10 December 1994)ADHOC
300
DittoLICADHO
300
DittoAction Committee
500
DittoCambodian Institute
1 600
Ditto
Total cost of projects
442 225
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ANNEX III
Conventions in the field of human rights ratified by Cambodia
A. Conventions with reporting obligations
1. United Nations Conventions
Instrument
Date of signature
Date of receipt of the instrument of ratification or accession
Date of entry into force
Initial report due
Initial report submitted
Periodic report due
Monitoring body
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
17 October 1980
26 May 1992
(accession)
26 August 1992
30 June 1994
Whenever the Committee so requests (art. 17)
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Geneva)International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
17 October 1980
26 May 1992
(accession)
26 August 1992
25 August 1993
Whenever the Committee so requests (art. 40)
Human Rights Committee (Geneva)Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination
4 November 1983
28 November 1983 (ratification)
28 December 1983
28 December 1984
18 December 1985
CERD/C/111/Add.4
28 December
1986 (2)
1988 (3)
1990 (4)
1992 (5) (art. 9)
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Geneva)Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment
15 October 1992
(accession)
14 November 1992
13 November 1993
Every four years and whenever the Committee so requests (art. 19)
Committee against Torture (Geneva)Convention on the Rights of the Child
22 September 1992
15 October 1992 (ratification)
14 November 1992
13 November 1994
Every five years (art. 66)
Committee on the Rights of the Child (Geneva)Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
17 October 1980
15 October 1992 (accession)
14 November 1992
14 November 1993
Every four years and whenever the Committee so requests (art. 44)
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (New
York)Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid
28 July 1981 (accession)
28 August 1981
Periodic report (art. VII)
Group of three members of the Commission on Human Rights
2. ILO Conventions
Instruments
Date of receipt of the instrument of ratification or accession
Date of entry into force
Initial report due
Initial report received
Monitoring body
Night Work (Women) Convention (No. 4)
24 February 1969
24 February 1970
Annual report (art. 22 of ILO Constitution)
No report has been submitted by Cambodia to the ILO under this Convention
for more than 15 years
ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and
RecommendationsNight Work of Young Persons (industry) Convention (No. 6)
24 February 1969
24 February 1970
Annual report (art. 22 of ILO Constitution)
Ditto
ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and
RecommendationsWhite Lead (painting) Convention (No. 13)
24 February 1969
24 February 1970
Annual report (art. 22 of ILO Constitution)
Ditto
ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and
RecommendationsForced Labour Convention (No. 29)
24 February 1969
24 February 1970
Annual report (art. 22 of ILO Constitution)
Ditto
ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and
RecommendationsEmployment Policy Convention (No. 122)
28 September 1971
28 September 1972
Annual report (art. 22 of ILO Constitution)
Ditto
ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and
Recommendations
Note: On 15 August 1994, on the basis of the procedure established by
article 19 of the ILO Constitution, which provides for submission of
reports on non-ratified conventions, Cambodia submitted a report under
Convention 158 (Termination of Employment).
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B. Other United Nations conventions
1. Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide: accession, 14
October 1950; entry into force, 2 November 1950.
2. Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade
and Institutions and Practices similar to Slavery: accession, 12 June
1957; entry into force, 12 June 1957.
3. Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and 1969 Protocol:
accession, 15 October 1992; entry into force, 3 November 1992.
C. Other conventions: UNESCO
1. Accord pour l'importation d'objets de caractere educatif, scientifique
ou culturel, avec annexes A, B, C, D et E et Protocole annexe: accession,
5 November 1951.
2. Convention universelle sur le Droit d'auteur et Protocoles 1, 2 et 3:
accession, 3 August 1953.
3. Accord visant a faciliter la circulation internationale du materiel
visuel et auditif de caractere educatif, scientifique et culturel:
accession, 20 February 1952.
4. Centre international d'Etudes pour la conservation et la restauration
des biens culturels (ICCROM): accession, 13 June 1961.
5. Convention et Protocole pour la protection des biens culturels en cas
de conflit arme: ratification, 4 April 1962.
6. Convention concernant les mesures a prendre pour interdire et empecher
l'importation, l'exportation et le transfert de propriete illicites des
biens culturels: ratification, 26 September 1972.
7. Convention concernant la protection du patrimoine mondial culturel et
naturel: acceptance, 28 November 1991.
D. Geneva Conventions of 1949 for the protection of
war victims
1. Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and
Sick in Armed Forces in the Field: accession, 8 December 1958.
2. Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick
and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea: accession, 8 December
1958.
3. Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War: accession,
8 December 1958.
4. Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War: accession, 8 December 1958.
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