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• HE Keo Remy, Senior Minister, CHRC President, [Says]: Human Rights Do Not Exist When a Country Is Not At Peace.

HE Keo Remy, Senior Minister, CHRC President, [Says]: Human Rights Do Not Exist When a Country Is Not At Peace.

(Takeo Province): A workshop to disseminate the national report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was held under the distinguished chairmanship of HE Keo Remy, Senior Minister, in charge of special missions, President of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), on Monday morning, 15 September 2025, at Takeo Provincial Hall. This workshop was organized by the CHRC, in collaboration with the Takeo Provincial Administration, with the participation of representatives of the Provincial Court of First Instance, prosecutors of the Provincial Court of First Instance, the military police, the provincial administration, the provincial prison, provincial departments and units, and representatives of the districts.

HE Keo Remy, Senior Minister, stated that economic, social and cultural rights are some of the most vital fundamental human rights, along with other key rights, which are protected and promoted as stipulated in the ICESCR. At the same time, the Royal Government of Cambodia has also put in place policies, strategic plans, and sectoral measures aimed at ensuring the promotion of economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the implementation of this international covenant.

This workshop was held to:
– disseminate widely, to the sub-national level, the efforts and major achievements of the Royal Government in protecting and promoting human rights in Cambodia;
– demonstrate the international obligations regularly implemented by the Royal Government as a member state of the United Nations to submit reports on the implementation of the ICESCR;
– promote a clear understanding of the protection process and the concluding observations of the national report on the implementation of the ICESCR;
– promote a better understanding of the ICESCR among sub-national units and encourage participation in its implementation from sub-national units.

He said that the current global situation tends to fuel war, which has greatly affected human rights, because even the right to life, which is their most fundamental right, is not guaranteed. Therefore, participating in preserving and protecting peace is our duty to ensure the fundamental freedoms and progress of the Cambodian people. Cambodia is a peace-loving country and strives to ensure peace, stability, and harmony in the region, because only with peace can there be the possibility of economic, social, and cultural development. In recent times, Thailand’s aggression against Cambodia has been a serious violation of human rights as outlined in the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the right to housing, the right to health, the right to education, the right to work, etc.

He also mentioned that the Kingdom of Cambodia is a leading country in the ASEAN region, having ratified 8 out of 9 core international human rights treaties, including 4 optional protocols. In addition, Cambodia has continued to welcome the presence of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia and always welcomes visits from special rapporteurs in specific sectors upon request. These major factors are strong and undeniable evidence and testimony of the genuine goodwill of the Royal Government of Cambodia towards the promotion and protection of human rights under the wise and skillful leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen in the past and Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Human rights do not exist when a country is not at peace. Therefore, only we can all work together to help maintain peace. At the same time, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, is paying great attention and exploring all procedures to have Thailand release all 18 of our soldiers and return to our homeland. He made the remarks during the workshop to disseminate the national report on the implementation of the ICESCR.

In conclusion, HE Keo Remy expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the provincial administration for organizing this important national report dissemination workshop. He also instructed all participants to listen carefully and to ask various questions related to the national report, including questions on human rights topics in general.