For Immediate Release – 19 June 2013
Cambodia: Report finds marked deterioration in human
rights
Phnom
Penh, 19.06.2013: Human rights
defenders in Cambodia are less safe than they were a year ago according to a
report published today by ARTICLE 19 and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR). The risk
assessment survey shows the security situation in the country deteriorated
significantly in 2012 as the government crackdown on fundamental human rights
has intensified ahead of the elections in July. The report highlights in
particular, increasing attacks on freedom of expression and freedom of
association.
ARTICLE 19 and CCHR demand that the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC)
immediately stop persecuting human rights defenders (HRDs) and take concrete
measures to actively promote and protect the basic human rights in the country.
“Repeatedly we have seen that people who stand up and speak out about
injustices and violations are either beaten or locked up. The human rights
situation in Cambodia is dire and getting worse” said
Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19’s Executive Director.
The RGC
frequently employs hardline intimidation tactics to silencing criticism, including
physical violence, arresting people without charge and waging campaigns of legal
and judicial harassment. These efforts are particularly directed towards people
that are defending land and housing rights, trade unionists, members of opposition
political groups, human rights lawyers, journalists, and the local NGO
community.
“The government has a very low tolerance for criticism – and as a
result, Cambodian human rights defenders are continually targeted by the
authorities,” said OU Virak, CCHR’s President. “We all need to increase our efforts to
stand behind Cambodian human rights defenders and provide support to these men
and women who continue to speak out despite the considerable risk involved,”
he added.
This report
aims to jump-start a much-needed long-term coordinated initiative by the
national and international community to protect HRDs in Cambodia. HRDs are an
integral part of a democratic society, and only when Cambodian HRDs can carry
out their work with minimum risk will the overall human rights situation in
Cambodia be improved.
The report
includes a risk assessment that holistically analyses trends of threats and
risks faced by different groups of HRDs in Cambodian.
Please
find attached in PDF format the Press Release and Report in English.
Khmer versions of the Press Release and Report will follow shortly.
Kind regards,
CCHR
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