Human Rights and Rule of Law in Cambodia

Date:

Thu, 09/10/2009 - 1:00 PM

Location:

2200 Rayburn House Office Building

Announcement

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing on the status of human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia.

On July 29, The Washington Post reported, "a heightened crackdown on journalists and opposition activists...has provoked new concern that the government [of Cambodia] is engaging in widespread abuse of the nation's legal system to muzzle its detractors." On August 4, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found opposition parliamentarian Mu Sochua guilty of defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen. According to the 2008 State Department Human Rights report, current labor law in Cambodia provides only private-sector workers the right to join a trade union without prior authorization, but the government's enforcement of the law has been selective. Additionally, despite the 2001 law requiring land titling for communal land of indigenous peoples, little was done to implement this law and there have been several reported incidences of indigenous peoples being forced to leave their land without compensation. These issues are part of a concerning trend in the Cambodian government's overall human rights record.

If you have any questions, please contact 202-225-3599.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC

Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC

Witnesses

Mu Sochua, Member of Parliament, Sam Rainsy Party
Pung Kek, Founder, LICADHO
Moeun Tola, Head of Labor Program, Community Legal Education Center
Sophie Richardson, Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch

Meeting Documents

Transcript

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.