Situation of human rights in Cambodia

1994/61. Situation of human rights in Cambodia

The Commission on Human Rights, Guided by the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, Taking note of the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict signed on 23 October 1991, including part III relating to human rights, Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/6 of 19 February 1993 and General Assembly resolution 48/154 of 20 December 1993, Bearing in mind the role and responsibilities of the United Nations and the international community in the process of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cambodia, Recognizing that Cambodia's tragic recent history requires special measures to assure the promotion and protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and the non-return to the policies and practices of the past, as stipulated in the Paris Agreements (A/46/608-S/23177), Welcoming the elections of May 1993 and the inauguration of the Royal Government of Cambodia,

1. Welcomes the establishment of the operational presence of the Centre for Human Rights in Cambodia on 1 October 1993 to implement the activities set out in Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/6, paragraph 2, of 19 February 1993;

2. Also welcomes the appointment by the Secretary-General of a Special Representative to undertake the tasks set out in Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/6, paragraph 6;

3. Takes note with satisfaction of the exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the Royal Government of Cambodia concerning the consent of the Government for the fulfilment of the activities of the Centre for Human Rights and the mandate of the Special Representative in Cambodia;

4. Notes with interest the programme of activities of the Centre for Human Rights in Cambodia, as described in the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1994/73 and Add.1);

5. Requests the Secretary-General to assure the promotion and protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to ensure sufficient resources, from within existing overall United Nations resources, for the full implementation of the mandate of the Centre for Human Rights and that of the Special Representative;

6. Takes note of the transfer of responsibility for the management of the United Nations Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education Programme in Cambodia from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia to the Centre for Human Rights, in order to allow the Centre to implement its programme of activities in Cambodia in accordance with the Commission on Human Rights mandate, as set out in Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/6, paragraph 2;

7. Invites Governments and interested organizations to contribute to the United Nations Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education Programme in Cambodia;

8. Takes note with interest of the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Cambodia (E/CN.4/1994/73) and his recommendations and conclusions (E/CN.4/1994/73/Add.1), in particular the identification of priority areas requiring urgent attention, namely:

(a) The devotion of proper resources to hospitals, schools, courts and for the defence of cultural treasures, especially Angkor Wat;

(b) The support of the National Assembly Human Rights Commission, including financial assistance for a proper secretariat, equipment and training;

(c) The enactment of laws and related activities in specially urgent areas;

(d) The implementation of training programmes aimed at the promotion and protection of civil rights;

(e) The ensuring of true independence of the judiciary;

9. Requests the Centre for Human Rights to assist, with the consent and cooperation of the Royal Government of Cambodia, in providing advice with respect to the creation of an independent national institution for the promotion and protection of human rights, such as an ombudsman or a human rights commission;

10. Also requests the Centre for Human Rights, in cooperation with the relevant specialized agencies and development programmes, to develop and implement programmes, with the consent and cooperation of the Royal Government of Cambodia, in the priority areas identified by the Special Representative, paying particular attention to women and vulnerable groups, including children and refugees;

11. Expresses grave concern at the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel land-mines in Cambodia and the devastating consequences and destabilizing effects such mines have on Cambodian society;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to renew the mandate of the Special Representative as set out in Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/6, paragraph 6;

13. Decides to review the respective programmes and mandates set out in its resolution 1993/6 at its fifty-first session;

14. Requests the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-first session and to provide an interim report to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session;

15. Decides to continue its consideration of this matter at its fifty-first session under the agenda item entitled "Advisory services in the field of human rights".

57th meeting
4 March 1994
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XIX.]