Children releasing balloons during celebrations in Kampot province

December 10, 2009, marked the 61st anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. For the fifth year in a row, various NGOs and members of civil society throughout Cambodia celebrated December 10 - International Human Rights Day - by participating in activities and events in 71 separate locations across the country. This year, LICADHO used International Human Rights Day as a platform to focus on incarcerated human rights defenders in Cambodia's prisons. Eighty members of LICADHO staff visited prisoners in Phnom Penh, CC1, CC2, Kampot, Kompong Cham, Kompong Chhnang, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Takeo, and Kompong Thom provinces.

Family members, supporters, and NGOs visited 52 wrongfully imprisoned human rights defenders throughout the country and delivered care packages to them which included staple items such as noodles, rice, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dried fish, canned fish, soap, towels, fish sauce, soybeans, and green tea. In celebration of International Human Rights Day, family and supporters were provided with transportation fees and food in order to visit their human rights defending relatives in prison. Many of these individuals have been charged with illegal occupation of land, illegally clearing forest, or damage to private property in relation to land disputes. Others are held on charges of assault or incitement - often stemming from participation in a peaceful protest that ended violently - or on charges of defamation and disinformation for publicly criticizing authorities.

These prisoners are often held in pretrial detention beyond the legal limit of 18 months, awaiting trial dates that have yet to be set (the legal limit was increased from 6 months to 18 months in 2007 with the passing of the new Code of Criminal Procedure). NGOs, family members, community representatives, monks and students visited wrongfully imprisoned human rights defenders - some suffering from chronic medical problems like malaria or HIV/AIDS - who are inadequately fed and have no means to access better food or clean water. Life in prison is excruciatingly harsh, with inmates facing poor living conditions and limited medical services. Many prisoners also lack access to a lawyer or legal advice.

Touch Ly Human Rights Defender
Touch Ly is a community representative and a human rights defender who has been wrongfully imprisoned since April 8, 2009. She is serving 16 months in prison after being found guilty of forgery for allegedly falsifying thumbprints on a document she was asked to submit to court regarding a land dispute. Touch Ly suffers from chronic fevers and back pain, and worries for the welfare of her family. Her children, all of whom do very well in school, cannot afford books or supplies, and she expressed fear that they will be unable to continue without access to materials. On International Human Rights Day, she was visited by her family and NGO staff, who provided a care package and medical attention. Her prison term is scheduled to run through to August 2010.

Celebrations Around the Country
The variety of Human Rights Day events across Cambodia was extensive this year, with active and enthusiastic participation across the country. Although the government did not grant permission to hold some events until the eve of the event, a march in Phnom Penh involved 5,000 people, with particularly heavy attendance by union groups, garment and factory workers, and tuk-tuk and moto drivers. Various NGOs observed, monitored, and shared in events in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kompong Chhnang, Kompong Cham, Kompong Thom, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Kampot, Kompong Speu, Svay Rieng, Pursat, Prey Veng, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, Takeo, Kratie, Poipet, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Kandal and Mondulkiri.

Requesting permission from authorities was the greatest obstacle to organizers, but this year saw better participation by local officials, particularly in Battambang province. In Prey Veng, the district governor denied permission for a public event, but organizers still managed to engage 200 people in activities at a private residence. Similarly, plans to discuss land rights and market prices in the Boeung Kak Lake area were blocked, but 400 people still gathered to participate in a chanting ceremony with monks.

Previous Human Rights Day Celebrations
The annual observance of International Human Rights Day in Cambodia has grown over the past five years. In 2004, a modest 2,000 people marched to Phnom Penh's Wat Botum bearing banners, including representatives of United Nations agencies and civil society. In 2005, some 7,000 people - including union and community activists, NGOs and students -- gathered at the Olympic Stadium in the capital. The follow year in 2006 the event grew even larger, this time highlighted by the appearance of the Special Representative of the United Nation's Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders. Ten thousand people representing all facets of society gathered beneath the slogan "We are all human rights defenders."

In 2007 and 2008, the event grew more organized and diverse with a focus on activities around the country such as workshops, discussion groups, group prayers, media coverage and a human chain of solidarity. The informal group that had organized previous years' Human Rights Days named themselves Friends of December 10th.

International Human Rights Day in Cambodia relies on the involvement of community members, and highlights the need to raise awareness. It has developed and evolved since its 2004 inception in order to address current challenges to human rights and human rights defenders by working at a grassroots level nationwide. It has consolidated its approach to confront the obstacles to human rights in a strategic manner that will garner real results.

The blue krama (scarf) has also become the symbol of International Human Rights Day in Cambodia, and was liberally distributed among participants this year. This year's over 19,000 participants should be commended for devoting themselves to supporting human rights defenders, and for actively promoting human rights for all.