Author: ADHOC- Cambodia

Observing human rights such as labor standards and community rights may not necessarily improve business profits but violating them could certainly be costly, as corporate executives learned from a conference here this week.

Many major companies have incorporated human rights principles into their core business practices, to avoid large sums of money spent unnecessarily said John Ruggie, the Harvard professor who proposed the United Nations guiding principles for multinational corporations (MNC) to better observe human rights.

Jakarta Post Article – Human rights violations can be costly for business Read More

On 05 June 2013 monitors from the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) attended the appeal hearing of Ms. Yorm Bopha. Bopha was arrested on 04 September 2012 and detained for four months before being sentenced to three years in prison under Article 218 of the Cambodian Criminal Code 2009: “intentional violence with aggravating circumstances”. The conviction relates to an incident in which two motodop drivers were assaulted at Phnom Penh’s Boeung Kak Lake area on 07 August 2012, allegedly at the behest of Bopha. The trial at the Court of First instance on 27 December 2012 saw the witnesses for the prosecution ­ – who are also the alleged victims – repeatedly contradict their previous comments to the investigating judge when describing their assault, giving clear reason to doubt their account of the incident and any notion that Bopha was involved. The testimonies of the victims crumbled under the scrutiny of Bopha’s defense team at yesterday’s hearing. There is no credible evidence linking Bopha to the attack.

Release Yorm Bopha and Find a Just Resolution for the Boeung Kak Community Read More

At around 8.00am today more than 100 protesters from Boeung Kak Lake, Borey Keila and airport communities evicted from their homes assembled in front of the Ministry of Justice to demonstrate against violations of their housing rights and to file a petition asking for the release Ms. Yorm Bopha, a community activist imprisoned for more than 8 months so far on spurious charges.

Monitoring Report on Protest of Boeung Kak Lake Victims in Front of the Ministry of Justice Read More

On 13 March 2013 at Srecha Commune office, Mrs. Tim Narin, ADHOC Kratie Coordinator cooperated with Mr. Ouk Sara, Commune Chief, and Mrs. Lim Savorn, a Commune Councilor to mediate in a longstanding land dispute between two sisters: Ms. Ourn Dany, a 47 year old farmer and Ms. Ourn Sreypove, a 32 year old businesswoman.

ADHOC Successfully Mediates in Longstanding Land Dispute at Srechar Commune, Snoul District, Kratie Province Read More