His Excellency Keo Remy, presided over the opening ceremony of National Consultative Workshop
His Excellency Keo Remy, presided over the opening ceremony of National Consultative Workshop
On the morning of Wednesday, 6 December 2023, His Excellency Keo Remy, Senior Minister, President of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), presided over the opening ceremony of National Consultative Workshop on the Universal Periodic Review. The workshop was organised in collaboration between the CHRC and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia (OHCHR) with the aim of providing a platform for the government to prepare a national report after the national consultation process with all stakeholders. A total of roughly 100 representatives from relevant ministries, departments, civil society organisations and UN agencies, and Members of Parliament and Senate took part in this consultative workshop.
Ms Roueida Adel El Hage, OHCHR representative to Cambodia, stated that, “The main purpose of the Universal Periodic Review is to improve the human rights situation through cooperation and engagement with various civil society actors. The UPR report, the 4th Cycle–a combined and separate report–was submitted to the Human Rights Council, which highlights the involvement of civil society organisations in the process of implementing the recommendations Cambodia received in the 3rd Cycle.
Mr Jo Scheuer, UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia, stated that the UN Secretary-General called on the UN Country support for States Parties and other stakeholders to use comprehensive and universal periodic review mechanisms as a basis for addressing challenges, seizing opportunities and responding to the needs of the 21st century, and implementing the 2030 Agenda as well.
His Excellency Keo Remy, Senior Minister, President of the CHRC, said the Royal Government of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly, under the leadership of Samdech Hun Manet, has launched Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I to realise Cambodia Vision 2030 and 2050 by setting five key priorities: people, roads, water, electricity and technology, along with the launch of six priority policy programmes to be implemented immediately in 2023. The UPR draft report, the 4th Cycle, highlights key achievements that Cambodia has attained, including some of the challenges in implementing the 173 recommendations received over the past four years or so. Obviously, the relevant ministries and institutions have implemented and achieved many results in all areas of rights, and this report includes key points such as legal framework, policy, action plan and other programmes that have been put in place and are being implemented, including some specific data.
The Senior Minister instructed all participants to pay attention, listen and provide more important input to make this report better and more comprehensive.
