CHRC urges UN action as thousands remain displaced in Cambodia
CHRC urges UN action as thousands remain displaced in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, Jan 26, 2026 — The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) said it has submitted an urgent appeal to a United Nations special rapporteur over what it described as serious human rights violations against internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cambodia linked to military actions by Thailand.
In a press release dated Jan 26, the committee said it had formally requested intervention from Paula Gaviria Betancur, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, citing continued displacement despite a ceasefire agreement reached between Cambodia and Thailand in late December.
According to the CHRC, more than 115,000 Cambodian IDPs remained unable to return to their homes as of Jan 25, 2026. The committee alleged that Thai armed forces had unlawfully entered and occupied Cambodian territory, destroyed civilian homes and erected barriers — including shipping containers and barbed wire — that obstruct safe and voluntary returns.
The committee said such actions amounted to violations of the ceasefire agreement, particularly provisions requiring an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, the facilitation of civilians’ return in safety and dignity, and the prohibition of force against civilian populations.
The CHRC said the displacement has disproportionately affected vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly, the sick and persons with disabilities, exposing them to heightened risks such as poverty, loss of education and limited access to essential services.
In its appeal, the committee called on the UN special rapporteur to urgently examine the situation, engage the Thai government through UN mechanisms, urge the withdrawal of Thai forces from Cambodian territory, and highlight the case internationally as a serious instance of conflict-related internal displacement. It also called for reparations for affected civilians, including restitution, compensation and guarantees of non-repetition.
The CHRC said Cambodia has taken steps to assist displaced civilians but stressed that international engagement remains essential when displacement is caused by external military actions.
Thailand has not publicly responded to the statement.
