Tom Andrews: Displaced Cambodians Have Right to Return Home

Tom Andrews: Displaced Cambodians Have Right to Return Home

PHNOM PENH, 1 August 2016 — United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia Tom Andrews has urged Cambodia and Thailand to accelerate efforts to resolve their border issues so that thousands of displaced Cambodian civilians can safely return to their homes.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday following the conclusion of his visit to Cambodia, Andrews said both countries should work together to expedite a solution that would allow displaced residents to return without fear.

Responding to a question from reporters, Andrews thanked the Cambodian government and relevant authorities for facilitating his visit to the Cambodia-Thailand border, where he met with displaced Cambodian civilians living in temporary shelters.

He stressed that international law recognizes the right of people displaced by armed conflict to return to their homes.

“It is a principle of international law that those displaced from their homes because of armed conflict have the right to return,” Andrews said. “It is essential that Thailand and Cambodia work together to accelerate the return of those displaced civilians. They need and deserve to be able to go back to their homes.”

During his visit, Andrews met with displaced families and observed conditions at temporary camps established for civilians affected by the border conflict. He emphasized that a timely and peaceful resolution of the border situation would be critical to enabling their safe and dignified return.