The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence comment on Cambodia
“UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today urged the Cambodian Government to act swiftly to enable and protect a conducive environment for a free and fair general election next month, saying he was deeply concerned by the curtailing of civic space ahead of the poll” he said.
“He says ahead of the election, there must be an open and pluralistic environment that guarantees the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, and freedom of assembly and association. These elements lie at the core of open and free societies as envisaged by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said,” Jeremy Laurence stated.
The National Election Commission (NEC) earlier this year disqualified the Candlelight Party (CLP) and Khmer United Great Nation Party from running for election while long prison sentences had been handed down against other opposition figures. Under international law, all citizens have an equal right to stand for election, a right that may only be subjected to restrictions that are objective, reasonable, and non-discriminatory.
Heavy fines have been imposed on other political actors, such as Son Chhay the Vice-President of CLP, who was ordered to pay over USD one million in fines and compensation to the National Election Committee (NEC) and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party for defamation.
“And this week, the Prime Minister said the Government would amend the election law to bar anyone who boycotts the vote, or encourages others to do so, from running as a candidate in future elections. Such an amendment, if enacted, would constitute an overbroad restriction on the right to freedom of expression and a breach of the right of all citizens to stand for election, guaranteed by the Constitution of Cambodia and international human rights instruments” he said.
“Human rights defenders, trade unionists and political activists reportedly face legal sanctions for having exercised their rights to freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly or association protected by international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Cambodia in 1992” Jeremy Laurence said.
Jeremy Laurence quoted the High Commissioner and said that “the Paris Peace Agreement and international human rights treaties are the guarantors of peace, prosperity and a better future for Cambodia”.
“I urge Cambodia’s leadership to change course now to enable a vibrant civil society, a space for open debate and respect for human rights.”
For more information and media requests, please contact:
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Jeremy Laurence + +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or
Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
Tag and share
Twitter @UNHumanRights
Facebook unitednationshumanrights
Instagram @unitednationshumanrights
Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights
- Exterior shots: Palais Wilson
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today urged the Cambodian Government to act swiftly to enable and protect a conducive environment for a free and fair general election next month, saying he was deeply concerned by the curtailing of civic space ahead of the poll”.
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “He says ahead of the election, there must be an open and pluralistic environment that guarantees the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, and freedom of assembly and association. These elements lie at the core of open and free societies as envisaged by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “And this week, the Prime Minister said the Government would amend the election law to bar anyone who boycotts the vote, or encourages others to do so, from running as a candidate in future elections. Such an amendment, if enacted, would constitute an overbroad restriction on the right to freedom of expression and a breach of the right of all citizens to stand for election, guaranteed by the Constitution of Cambodia and international human rights instruments”.
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Human rights defenders, trade unionists and political activists reportedly face legal sanctions for having exercised their rights to freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly or association protected by international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Cambodia in 1992”.
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): the Paris Peace Agreement and international human rights treaties are the guarantors of peace, prosperity and a better future for Cambodia. I urge Cambodia’s leadership to change course now to enable a vibrant civil society, a space for open debate and respect for human rights.”
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
A UN Human Rights Office report released today on Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan made the following remarks on Tuesday concerning the deadly blast at a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul:
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan made the following remarks on the impact of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , WFP
Middle East war may deepen global hunger; mass displacement, rights violations on the rise
The Middle East war could cause the worst disruption to humanitarian work since COVID, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR , UNECE , UNRISD , UNSCOL , WFP , WHO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development & the World Food Programme.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Press conference with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran following the presentation of their latest report to the 61st Session of the Human Rights Council.
2
1
2
Statements , Conferences , Edited News | HRC
The UN’s top human rights forum gathered in Geneva on Monday, where Member States highlighted the growing civilian toll of war in the Middle East, sparked by Israeli and U.S. bombing of Iran, counter-strikes by Tehran against Gulf states and Israeli shelling of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to attacks by the armed group.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNIFIL , UNFPA , IOM , UNHCR
As the UN Secretary-General touched down in Beirut on Friday in solidarity with the people of Lebanon, UN agencies highlighted the dangers for civilians and particularly pregnant women and migrant workers, amid ongoing airstrikes and rocket fire between Hezbollah fighters and Israel.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , IOM , UNFPA , UNHCR , UNIFIL
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the Human Rights Council.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
"Counter-terrorism abuses challenging the international order" (definition of terrorism, use of force under the pretext of counter-terrorism, narco-terrorism)
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC
Russia’s deportations of Ukrainian children amount to crimes against humanity: independent UN rights probe
Scores of Ukrainian children are still missing after being deported far and wide across Russia and occupied territories while their families continue to search for them, human rights investigators said on Thursday.
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA
The UN’s emergency relief chief on Wednesday condemned the “$1 billion-a-day” cost of the war roiling the Middle East, at a time of severe cuts to the global body’s humanitarian work in emergencies and “soaring” needs.