Civil society groups are refusing consultations with the government and U.N. on establishing an independent national human rights body, saying they should not be talking about a new committee without showing genuine interest in promoting and protecting human rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government announced a draft for the initiative in June, but earlier this week 60 NGOs issued a joint statement saying \u201cwe do not trust that the NHRI that the RGC intends to create will be independent, effective and credible,\u201d using abbreviations for a national human rights institution and the Royal Government of Cambodia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRather, we are worried that in the current context, the establishment of a NHRI is a mere public relations exercise, destined to placate international criticism and condemnation of the RGC\u2019s track-record on human rights,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chin Malin, vice president of the existing governmental Cambodian Human Rights Committee, said earlier this week that the statement was politically motivated and irresponsible. On his Facebook page, he added that the civil society groups had refused a request from the committee and the U.N. human rights office for consultative meetings on the new institution, and were likely using the matter for political and personal gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rights group Adhoc\u2019s director Ny Sokha said the groups did not believe the new body could act independently in the current human rights context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe just ask the government to consider the issue of the space for freedoms before setting up a national human rights committee if we want a truly independent human rights committee that can work on promoting real human rights for people, rather than setting up a committee that cannot work independently,” Sokha said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am Sam Ath, deputy director of another rights group, Licadho, said the space for democracy and respect for human rights in Cambodia had taken a step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHuman rights issues are now a matter of controversy between the government and the international community,\u201d Sam Ath said, and the group would welcome the establishment of the national body if there was respect for human rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pa Chanroeun, president of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy, said the government would be able to estable a more effective and widely supported institution in a better political climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf this institution is established in a favorable political situation, it means that the situation and fundamental freedoms, civil rights and political rights are firmly respected. This institution will [then be able to] play a more active role in promoting respect for human rights and the process of democracy in Cambodia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n