UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Safe Return of Displaced Border Communities
UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Safe Return of Displaced Border Communities
PHNOM PENH, 4 August 2026 — Cambodia and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining constructive dialogue and strengthening technical cooperation following the conclusion of the rapporteur’s first official mission to the country.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Aug. 3, Permanent Secretary of State Eat Sophea met with Thomas Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur, on July 31 to review the outcome of his meetings with Cambodian leaders, government institutions and other stakeholders, as well as his field visits across the country.
Eat Sophea expressed appreciation for what he described as the Special Rapporteur’s comprehensive and balanced approach in assessing Cambodia’s human rights situation, including his visit to displaced communities affected by the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict.
He also highlighted Cambodia’s post-conflict recovery since the restoration of full peace in 1998, saying the government remains equally committed to promoting and protecting civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights as mutually reinforcing elements of sustainable development.
The permanent secretary further noted that Cambodia remains the only country in Asia hosting a standalone office of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which has maintained a presence in the country since 1993. He added that Cambodia has engaged constructively with eight successive UN Special Rapporteurs, reflecting its commitment to openness, dialogue and cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms.
The discussions also covered a broad range of human rights issues, including freedom of expression, economic and financial inclusion, gender equality, women’s empowerment, prison and detention centre overcrowding, and access to justice.
For his part, Andrews expressed appreciation to the Cambodian government for facilitating his mission from July 20 to 31, during which he met senior officials and stakeholders, visited Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey provinces, inspected detention centres and met displaced communities along the Cambodia-Thailand border.
He voiced hope for a swift resolution that would enable displaced residents to return safely and with dignity to their homes and livelihoods, in accordance with international humanitarian law, international human rights law and the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire agreement.
While encouraging continued progress in addressing remaining challenges, Andrews acknowledged Cambodia’s cooperation and commitment to promoting and protecting human rights. He also noted that Cambodia has ratified eight of the nine core international human rights treaties and accepted approximately 84% of the recommendations made under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.
The UN Special Rapporteur reaffirmed the Human Rights Council’s readiness to continue providing technical assistance to support Cambodia’s implementation of those recommendations.
The ministry said the meeting was held in a constructive and cordial atmosphere, with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to maintaining open dialogue, strengthening technical cooperation and advancing the promotion and protection of human rights in Cambodia.
