Rights violations persisted throughout the 1990s, with regular disappearances and political killingsSIEM REAP, 8 December 2008 (IRIN) - Cambodian activists and government leaders convened on 6-7 December to draw up a framework for an independent rights body, the first of its kind, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) vies for a stronger human rights role.
Representatives from government, the UN and NGOs agreed that a national human rights institution (NHRI) outside government influence was needed to conform to the Paris Principles, rights standards adopted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in 1991.
After every ASEAN member state establishes an NHRI, the groups will form an ASEAN human rights mechanism or court.
Cambodia will be the fifth country to ratify an NHRI, after Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
The ASEAN Charter, recognising the Human Rights Working Group as an entity associated with ASEAN, was ratified in November 2007, making it a legal entity.
"The problem in Cambodia is that no human rights body is independent and fair," Pa Nguon Teang, secretary-general of the Cambodia Working Group (CWG) for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, told IRIN. "Corruption is widespread in Cambodia's courts, which have failed to enforce human rights laws."
International donors pledged a record US$1 billion at a meeting on 5 December despite concerns of misuse, compared with $690 million last year.
Reforms
Yet advocates warned the body should not overtake court authority, but only supplement it.
"It should not be seen as a substitute for other institutions not functioning well," James Turpin, legal associate of the Cambodia office for the UN human rights agency, said.
He added that Cambodia's courts were instigating reforms and that the NHRI should "work with them".
Others said the body would make it easier for rural poor Cambodians to become part of the system.
"They [the UN] have a very complicated human rights system that isn't accessible to many people in developing countries," Teang told IRIN. "We're trying to make human rights available and easy to understand for the poor."
He added that technological developments in rich countries had outpaced those in poor countries, and that international human rights organisations were not keeping this in mind when they did outreach.
Rights record
During the UN peacekeeping mission in Cambodia (UNTAC) in 1992, the UN and NGOs first tried to educate Cambodians about human rights through TV, radio and school programmes.
The outreach programmes spread during the 1990s, when the government was fighting Khmer Rouge factions in the countryside.
Yet rights violations persisted, with regular disappearances and political killings during what Christophe Peschoux, director of the Cambodia office for the UN rights agency, called the "law of the gun".
The government is still criticised by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International for rights abuses, mostly notably a 1997 military coup in which hundreds of opposition supporters were allegedly tortured or killed, and for failing to protect poor people from forced land evictions.
Representatives from government, the UN and NGOs agreed that a national human rights institution (NHRI) outside government influence was needed to conform to the Paris Principles, rights standards adopted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in 1991.
After every ASEAN member state establishes an NHRI, the groups will form an ASEAN human rights mechanism or court.
Cambodia will be the fifth country to ratify an NHRI, after Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
The ASEAN Charter, recognising the Human Rights Working Group as an entity associated with ASEAN, was ratified in November 2007, making it a legal entity.
"The problem in Cambodia is that no human rights body is independent and fair," Pa Nguon Teang, secretary-general of the Cambodia Working Group (CWG) for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, told IRIN. "Corruption is widespread in Cambodia's courts, which have failed to enforce human rights laws."
International donors pledged a record US$1 billion at a meeting on 5 December despite concerns of misuse, compared with $690 million last year.
Reforms
Yet advocates warned the body should not overtake court authority, but only supplement it.
"It should not be seen as a substitute for other institutions not functioning well," James Turpin, legal associate of the Cambodia office for the UN human rights agency, said.
He added that Cambodia's courts were instigating reforms and that the NHRI should "work with them".
Others said the body would make it easier for rural poor Cambodians to become part of the system.
"They [the UN] have a very complicated human rights system that isn't accessible to many people in developing countries," Teang told IRIN. "We're trying to make human rights available and easy to understand for the poor."
He added that technological developments in rich countries had outpaced those in poor countries, and that international human rights organisations were not keeping this in mind when they did outreach.
Rights record
During the UN peacekeeping mission in Cambodia (UNTAC) in 1992, the UN and NGOs first tried to educate Cambodians about human rights through TV, radio and school programmes.
The outreach programmes spread during the 1990s, when the government was fighting Khmer Rouge factions in the countryside.
Yet rights violations persisted, with regular disappearances and political killings during what Christophe Peschoux, director of the Cambodia office for the UN rights agency, called the "law of the gun".
The government is still criticised by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International for rights abuses, mostly notably a 1997 military coup in which hundreds of opposition supporters were allegedly tortured or killed, and for failing to protect poor people from forced land evictions.
3 comments:
Thai ratified NHRI, and yet human right violation live on. Thai police, soldiers, and security appartus love to shoot and kill un-arm civilian, espically, those who come from neighbor countries who are trying to make a few bath to make living. Thai in general are racist look down on their Asian, and yet treat White people like god! Therefore, any agreement, any signature with Thai do not mean anything.
1126pm,
Have you seen King and Anna or King and I?
That film seemed expose King Mongkut of Siam who elevated Anna above all women he lived with.
Anna was British widower who had a crush on Mongkut ,the originator of white elephant lie.
Also Mongkut was womanizer and philanderer himself but he executed one of his younger Chinese female ,a gift from her own father to King pleasure, suitors for having lover.
To understand Siam,look at its kings behaviors.
Chakri Rama I killed his father in law, psychotic King Tak Sin, for being not Siam and over zealous in religious control then made himself King.He ,himself, is no less Chin than Tak Sin.
king Lek is persecuting Thaksin also a Chin but popular leader for poor ethnics Siam,Lao,Miao,Chin from Xiang Mai. Lek wants Thaksin disappeared for good.
All Ramas have problems and love to steal others properties.
is this similar to the check and balance system? because cambodia needs a check and balance system kind of gov't so every official is to be held accountable for their position. no one should be above the law at all; this ought to be a new era for cambodia gov't system. thank you and may god bless cambodia.
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