The Human Rights Program (as part of the ADHOC Monitoring Section) receives, investigates and intervenes in cases of human rights violation such as extra-judicial killings, mob-killings, political killings and threats, threats against human rights defenders, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, confiscation and destruction of property, extortion.
To achieve its objectives, the Human Rights Program takes action in every case of suspected violation of civil and political rights by, or on the instructions of a government official, reported to ADHOC:
- fully investigates all human rights violation cases by collecting evidence and intervenes through press statements, press conferences and publication in Neak Chea bulletin;
- supports victims, or their families, in urging the authorities to investigate the violations and to prosecute the perpetrators;
- helps or arranges help to keep the victims and their families in safety;
- sends serious cases to the Advocacy Section to intervene towards relevant institutions;
- provides legal assistance, including the assistance of a lawyer, to victims who are not able to find a lawyer or write letters of complaint; and
- records all interventions in paper and electronic files which are safely and securely stored.
In serious cases of human rights violations and violence, ADHOC cooperates with Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) or UNCOHCHR at national level and with CHRAC Sub-Committee at provincial level. CHRAC is an umbrella of 23 NGOs for human rights.
In 2008, the Human Rights Program received, investigated and intervened in 562 cases of human rights violation and followed up 219 previous human rights cases.
Case study
On February 20, 2008, at 11:00pm, Pheurt Reur, male, 30 years old, a soldier of Region 2, Position 95, in province of Preah Vihear, has thrown a hand grenade against the staircase of Khiev Savèn, male, resident of Por Teap village, Mlou Prey commune, Chhep district, Preah Vihear province, resulting in 4 children being seriously wounded. Upon receipt of a complaint from the victim, an ADHOC provincial human rights monitor launched an investigation and intervention on February 28, 2008, with cooperation of the prosecutor of provincial court, who, on March 2, 2008, ordered the arrest and detention of the suspect, pending the trial.
