STATEMENT Civil Society Supports the Universal Period Review (UPR)
Phnom Penh, 30 November 2009
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 21 NGOs, wishes to express its firm support for Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process which is a new human rights monitoring mechanism of the United Nations among which any UN members are placed for peer review and periodically every four years.
Under this new mechanism, Cambodia will be reviewed by UN Human Rights Council on the compliance of human rights in the country which is scheduled on December 1, 2009. This is the first ever review for Cambodia in addition to other existing mechanisms for monitoring of the compliance of human rights. Whilst supporting Cambodia to be subjected for a review by UN Human Rights Council under the UPR this year, CHRAC wishes to express some concerns over the serious human rights violations which had happened earlier and ongoing in particular, the restriction of freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration, forced eviction, the use of judicial system for suppressing the opponents, threats against human rights defenders and other forms of serious violation of human rights.
Therefore, taking this crucial opportunity, CHRAC would like to appeal to the Royal Government of Cambodia to pay more attention in order to ensure full compliance of all international covenants and conventions in relation to human rights of which Cambodia is a party to and have ratified. Moreover, CHRAC also hopes that the Government will consider and take all the recommendations from the UN Human Rights Council in order to progressively ameliorate human rights situation in Cambodia in accordance with the Constitution that recognizes and promotes the respect for human rights.
For more information, please contact
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Mr. Hang Chhaya
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CHRAC Chairman/KID Executive Director
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Tel: 012 865 910
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Mr. Thun Saray
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President of ADHOC
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Tel: 016 880 509
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Mr. Sok Sam Oeun
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Executive Director of CDP
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Tel: 012 901 199
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Ms. Sun Chansen
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President of KYA
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Tel: 017 788 955
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