Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch’s Joint Statement Regarding the Situation of the OHCHR in Cambodia

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Washington, D.C.)  Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued the following statement in response to Cambodian senior officials’ public statements regarding the government’s intentions to force the closure of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Cambodia:

“Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International strongly condemn the public statements by senior officials of the government of Cambodia demanding the removal of the director of the OHCHR in Cambodia, Christophe Peschoux, and stating the government intends to force the closure of that office.  

“From our close knowledge of the work of the OHCHR Cambodia office, we reject as baseless the statements attributed to Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong that the office has acted as a ‘spokesperson for the opposition party.’  This attack by the government on the OHCHR Cambodia office should be seen as a direct assault on the UN’s human rights mandate, encompassed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international human rights conventions, many of which Cambodia has ratified.  

“We expect the leadership of the United Nations to continue to speak out in support of the OHCHR Cambodia office, its representative, and staff.  Donor governments to Cambodia should likewise voice their strong objections to the Cambodian government’s statements. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will visit Cambodia on October 31 and November 1, should publicly express support for the OHCHR Cambodia office and the UN’s human rights mandate.  

“Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International will continue to closely monitor the situation in Cambodia and expose human rights violations and promote accountability.”

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) added:

"AIUSA strongly urges Secretary Clinton to push Cambodia's leaders to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to keep its office open in the country. Failure to exert pressure will leave many Cambodians at risk of human rights abuses, as this office is one of the key institutions working to protect men, women and children. 

"The United States is playing a leadership role in the UN Human Rights Council, and we welcome Secretary Clinton's role in that.  We urge her to continue that legacy by personally raising this issue with the Cambodian authorities."

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For more information contact the AIUSA press office at or go to www.amnestyusa.org.

Contact: AIUSA media relations office, 202-509-8194

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