Tuesday, 26 January 2010

U.N. special rapporteur pleased with Cambodian rights


via CAAI News Media
January 25, 2010

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia informed Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An on Monday that he has seen real progress in this Kingdom's rights respect.

Surya Prasad Subedi told Sok An at the meeting that "I am familiar with the progress you have made over years, which is very encouraging ones."

Subedi, who is visiting here from Jan. 18 to 30 for his second mission to Cambodia, focus on the functioning of state institutions that should promote and protect rights, ensure checks and balances on the power of the executive, and promote and protect democratic development.

He also informed Sok An that he is "not coming here to criticize Cambodia to do this or that" but rather to work together with Cambodia as partnership in term of promoting human rights and the rule of laws.

Sok An, meanwhile, told Subedi that "the judicial aspect is very important issue", which has been taken seriously by the government for reform.

Regarding the issue of defamation, Sok An, who is also minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, said that Cambodia de-criminalized last year so as to contribute the freedom of expression and speech in the kingdom. "So it is very positive one compared with other countries," he said.

Sok An, also co-chairman of the legal and judicial reforms, said Cambodian government has set up school of magistracy, registrar and notary so as to improve the country's judicial system."Judiciary is a very big task, so we have to start from the foundation," Sok An explained the U.N. envoy.

"The number of new judges is not sufficient, so we need to train more judges to work in the judicial system," Sok An added.

Cambodia has produced an estimated 55 judges per year.

Source: Xinhua

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