A/HRC/RES/42/37
effectiveness of relevant institutions, such as the National Authority for Land Dispute
Resolution and cadastral committees at the national, provincial and district levels;
21.
Also notes the commitments made and the progress achieved by the
Government of Cambodia in implementing its obligations under international human rights
treaties and conventions to which it is a party, and urges the Government to continue to take
steps to meet its obligations under those treaties and conventions, and to this end to
strengthen its cooperation with United Nations agencies, including the Office of the High
Commissioner, through enhanced dialogue and the development of joint activities;
22.
Further notes the commitment of the Government of Cambodia to establish a
national human rights institution, and urges that this be done in accordance with the
principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of
human rights (the Paris Principles) and upon sufficient consultation with relevant
stakeholders;
23.
Welcomes the efforts made by the Cambodian Human Rights Committee,
especially in resolving complaints from individuals;
24.
Also welcomes the efforts and progress made by the Government of
Cambodia in promoting decentralization and deconcentration reform with the aim of
achieving democratic development by strengthening subnational and grass-roots
institutions;
25.
Expresses serious concern at the deterioration of the civil and political
environment in Cambodia due to the chilling effects of judicial prosecutions and other
actions taken against members of political parties, civil society and the media, in particular
the continued judicial supervision of former political opposition leader Kem Sokha and the
dissolution of the former opposition party, and calls upon all parties, inter alia the ruling
party, to work together towards de-escalating tensions and building trust and confidence by
restoring dialogue with relevant stakeholders in the country, and calls upon the Government
of Cambodia to guarantee, inter alia, the rights to freedom of expression and to freedom of
association and assembly, and to fulfil its accountability for the cases concerned;
26.
Gives attention to the conclusions and recommendations of the reports of the
Special Rapporteur 3 and her statement of May 2019, which calls for the release of Kem
Sokha and the swift conclusion of the investigation into his case, takes note that nine
members of the former opposition party have received the right to conduct their political
activities due to the amendment to the law on political parties in January 2019, strongly
encourages the Government of Cambodia to ensure political rights to all, to make
continuous efforts to solve the issue of the ban on political activities of senior members of
the opposition party, and to expand democratic space for political activists, civil society and
the media, including members of opposition parties, to actively, peacefully, responsibly and
openly participate in inclusive political debate, and strongly encourages all parties to
prioritize national reconciliation, peace and stability;
27.
Expresses concern at the continued restrictions imposed on civil society and
political parties and the negative impact of the Law on Associations and NonGovernmental Organizations and the amendments of 28 February and 10 July 2017 to the
Law on Political Parties, and urges the Government of Cambodia to make continuous
efforts to ensure the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association and
an environment conducive to the conduct of political activities by all political parties under
democratic principles and the rule of law;
28.
Takes into account the conclusions and recommendations made by the
Special Rapporteur in her report4 in relation to the process and the result of the national
elections held in 2018, while taking into account the high voting rates, regrets the large
number of invalid votes cast in the elections, and urges the Government of Cambodia to
3
4
4
A/HRC/39/73/Add.1 and A/HRC/42/60.
A/HRC/39/73/Add.1.