Thousands of Cambodians in 16 provinces will gather to celebrate the 67th International Human Rights Day (IHRD), culminating in a joint celebration in Phnom Penh.

From December 6 onward, grassroots groups such as communities affected by land conflicts, youth networks, associations, and monks as well as unions and NGOs across the country will hold a series of celebrations under an overall theme of ‘Justice’. Organized by Friends of December 10th, the events will encompass public forums to discuss current human rights issues, petitions to local authorities on local and national human rights concerns, human rights theatre sketches, and marches through provincial districts and towns.

On December 10, 3,000 people from Phnom Penh and the provinces will convene in the capital before marching to the Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly to submit petitions to the Minister and the country’s lawmakers. The petitions will feature five major calls to the government:

▪ For resolutions to land conflicts;
▪ Reform of the judicial system and the release of human rights defenders and activists;
▪ A raise in the minimum wage and respect for labour rights;
▪ An end to state-sponsored violence; and
▪ Respect for freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

‘International human rights day is a time for celebration, and also a call to action,’ said Meng Lamey, a member of a Child Protection Group network. ‘Youth are Cambodia’s future, and we demand a future in which there is justice for all.’

The celebrations come at the end of a tumultuous year for human rights in Cambodia. The organizers and participants of the IHRD celebrations believe that it is more important than ever to join together to celebrate IHRD in an increasingly restrictive environment following the passing of repressive legislations and continued groundless arrests, charges, and imprisonment of activists.

‘People are still struggling every day to protect their land all over Cambodia, and land activists are intimidated and jailed by the courts because the justice system favors the rich and powerful,’ said Um Sophy, Lor Peang community representative. ‘The government should be helping us obtain justice, not targeting us.’

‘Current minimum wage is well below the living wage,’ said Moeun Tola, head of the Labour Programme at CLEC. ‘The draft trade union law risks further damaging workers’ ability to organize and use collective bargaining.’

Despite the shrinking space for democracy and civil society, the continued use of the judiciary to silence and threaten activists, and the lack of any governmental commitment to uphold land rights and labour rights, activists across Cambodia will continue to protest injustice, demand their rights and call for change.

‘We are calling on the government to promote justice – and releasing all imprisoned human rights defenders and activists would be a good first step,’ said Ee Sarom, STT executive director. ‘Those activists have all been jailed with total disregard for Cambodia’s constitution, the principles of judicial independence, and international law.’

Friends of December 10 invite all friends and media to attend the IHRD celebrations. Please contact those listed below for more information on IHRD events in the provinces and in Phnom Penh.
For more information on how human rights defenders have been targeted since 2013, please see LICADHO’s website as of December 10.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Mr. Ee Sarom, Executive Director of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), 012 836 533
▪ Mr. Am Sam Ath, LICADHO Technical Coordinator, 012 327 770

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer
MP3: Listen to audio version in Khmer