The sixth series of Universal Periodic Reviews (UPR) Pre-sessions took place in Geneva Switzerland from 26 to 29 November 2013 to discuss the human rights situation of States to be reviewed at the 18th session of the UPR Working Group[1] (UPR Info,2013).
A Total of 11 States which are: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, New Zealand, Slovakia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uruguay, Viet Nam, and Yemen attended the Session along with 50 NGOs participation including Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) to discuss the human rights situation of States to be reviewed at the 18th session of the UPR Working Group.
On the morning of 26th , Mr. Latt Ky, the Head of Land and Natural Resources Rights Section, delivered a statement regarding the current situation of Cambodia on behalf of ADHOC .
ADHOC expressed its concerns on the national report, how Government failed to meet the deadline for the submission and Government’s lack of commitment to human rights.
Since the 2009 UPR, Cambodia has largely failed to implement the 91 recommendations which the Government of Cambodia accepted to improve the human rights situation in the country. Nine of these address land, housing and natural resources rights.
Amongst the issues that should be addressed by the State in order to ensure the fulfillment of these rights are the following: (1) Implementation of Land Reform and Equitable Development; (2) Adoption of a Moratorium on Eviction and implementation of Land Titling Scheme; (3) Forced Evictions, Lack of Compensation and Inadequate Relocation of Evictees.
ADHOC concluded its session by strongly urging the Government of Cambodia to accept the recommendations that were made in regarding to the aforementioned general human rights of Cambodia and the land, housing and natural resources rights situations.
For more information, please contact:
Mr.Latt Ky, Head of Section: 012 828 411 (Khmer, English)
[1] Source available at: http://www.upr-info.org/-Pre-session-UPR-18-.html
