CHRC president Keo Remy meets with EU ambassador Igor Driesmans on January 15. CHRC
Keo Remy, president of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), has requested that the EU consider the possibility of cooperation in the field of human rights.
Remy met with EU ambassador to Cambodia Igor Driesmans on January 15 to discuss possible future collaboration, said a CHRC press release.
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During the meeting, Remy suggested that the ambassador examine the possibility of working with the CHRC and the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to strengthen human rights.
The meeting also touched on the draft law on the establishment of national human rights institutions (NHRI), which is based on the principles of the Paris Principles and international human rights standards.
Remy noted the committee’s close cooperation with the OHCHR, which included 32 consultations, held with the participation of stakeholders.
He also briefed Driesmans on inspections of the human rights situation in prisons, correctional centres and rehabilitation centres, which determined that conditions have “improved”.
According to the press release, Driesmans praised the CHRC’s efforts to address human rights and welcomed the proposal of cooperation between the EU representative and the CHRC, together with the OHCHR.
CHRC spokesperson Pa Ponnarada said on January 16 that as yet, there is no human rights sector cooperation between the committee and the EU, which is why the Cambodian side proposed the possibility.
“Each of the CHRC’s partners holds different opinions, because every person holds different points of view on human rights. Once we establish cooperation, they will be able to support us with ideas and financial support so we can promote and protect human rights in Cambodia,” he added.
Am Sam Ath, operations director at rights group LICADHO, noted that in the past, the EU insisted that Cambodia restore democracy and human rights.
“The meeting between the EU representative and the CHRC chairman marks a positive step in discussions on improving human rights in Cambodia. We hope that the new government will at least make some of the human rights improvements that the EU wants to see,” he said.
Sam Ath said the proposed cooperation between the EU and the government’s human rights institution is a good thing, but cautioned that improving the human rights sector in Cambodia will require strong political will.
