The Human Rights Council, in a midday meeting, held separate interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, and the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, both under its agenda item on technical assistance and capacity building.
Vitit Muntarbhorn, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, said the theme of his report was “Landmarks and Benchmarks”, identifying a range of benchmarks, such as needed apertures for civil and political rights, to stimulate implementation of human rights in the country. Cambodia’s development epitomised constructive developments on many fronts. Nevertheless, Cambodia was faced with disquieting dilemmas linked with a range of human rights concerns and democratic aspirations. The shrunken civic and political space was heavily stockaded, especially vis a vis human rights advocates and the political opposition. Cambodia should open up civic and political space, including by suspending and reforming laws of a draconian kind. The Government should also end the prosecution of the political opposition and human rights defenders and related personnel, release them and drop the charges against them.
Cambodia, speaking as a country concerned, said Cambodia’s constructive engagement with the Special Rapporteur, including further access to the country, was indisputable. It should be noted that the opinion of the Special Rapporteur was personal. The report recognised, in a brief and narrow scope, certain positive elements, despite the Government’s genuine dialogue, but did not set the record straight on many fronts. On this partial basis, conclusions of a political nature had been drawn. The Special Rapporteur’s flat refusal to offer medical proof of an individual he advocated for having autism brought into question his observance of the code of conduct. The report also contained subjective and selective particulars.
In the discussion on Cambodia, some speakers welcomed Cambodia’s cooperation with Special Procedures, as well as the efforts made by the State in strengthening the social protection and healthcare system while combatting COVID-19. Despite progress achieved, some speakers were concerned about repression regarding civil and political rights as well as the further shrinking of civic space. The use of criminal charges and attacks against journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists, as well as members of the opposition, was extremely worrying. A number of speakers rejected the practice of countries interfering with Cambodia’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, expressing hope that all States would abide by the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter and respect Cambodia’s sovereignty. They said country mandates should not be established without the consent of the country concerned.
The Council then held an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia.
Isha Dyfan, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, said Somalia was experiencing a fourth consecutive failed rainy season, which had led to unprecedented drought and ravaged at least 90 per cent of Somalia’s districts. This had caused a grave humanitarian crisis affecting more than seven million people, in terms of food shortage, child mortality and acute malnutrition, and increased fighting over ever scarcer resources, which had resulted in mass displacement and an increase in violence against women and children. There was an urgent need to ensure adequate and sustained funding that went beyond immediate lifesaving and humanitarian response towards sustainable activities to prevent this recurring crisis. The major challenge to the peace building and state building efforts in Somalia continued to be the long-running armed conflict and its heavy toll on civilians, damaging infrastructure and livelihoods, forcibly displacing millions of people, and impeding access to humanitarian relief for communities in need.
Somalia, speaking as a country concerned, said the new Government was facing many challenges, including lack of security and recurrent drought. In order to tackle these obstacles, joint action led by the Somali national army and community had been launched with the aim of ending the culture of violence and extremism nationwide. The Government was also prioritising the ongoing drought which had the unfortunate potential to transition into a full-blown famine. There was no doubt that the Government had made progress in the area of human rights in past years. The new Government would continue to put in place more legislation, policies, and measures to create a conducive environment for human rights for all in Somalia.
In the discussion on Somalia, some speakers said that while a few positive developments had happened, concerns remained about the peace, security, and humanitarian challenges that persisted in Somalia. The humanitarian situation in Somalia was dire, and it continued to worsen. There was also concern for ongoing violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in Somalia, of which Al-Shabaab was the main perpetrator. A lack of accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses persisted.
Some speakers said there should be galvanised support for the Government in responding to the drought emergency, and the international community should redouble its efforts to support the road to recovery in Somalia, in a time of growing global crises. The Council should, one speaker said, suspend further resolutions on the country. The Independent Expert should exercise her mandate within the provisions of the code of conduct.
Speaking in the discussion on Cambodia were Finland on behalf of a group of countries, European Union, Cambodia on behalf of a group of countries, Switzerland, Ireland, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, France, Australia, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Russian Federation, China, Syria, United States, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Belarus, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Yemen, Belgium, Japan, Morocco, Brunei, Lebanon, India, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Cameroon, Egypt, Cuba, Turkey, Philippines, Tanzania, Republic of Korea, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso, and Azerbaijan.
Also speaking were the following non-governmental organizations: Article 19 – International Centre against Censorship, Association Ma’onah fo Human Rights and Immigration, Human Rights Now, International Federation for Human Rights League, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada.
Speaking in the discussion on Somalia were European Union, Saudi Arabia on behalf of a group of countries, Qatar, South Sudan, Senegal, Egypt, Ireland, United Nations Children’s Fund, France, Ethiopia, Australia, Venezuela, Russian Federation, China, United States, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Botswana, Luxembourg, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iceland on behalf of a group of countries, and Mauritania.
Also speaking were the following non-governmental organizations: Organisation Internationale pour les Pays Les Moins Avancés, Legal Action Worldwide, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Minority Rights Group, Elizka Relief Foundation, Institut International Pour les Droits et le Développement, iuventum e.V, and Advocates for Human Rights.
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The Council will next hold an enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in the Philippines, followed by an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic. Time permitting, it will then start its general debate on agenda item 10 on technical assistance and capacity building.
Source: UN Human Rights Council