Professor Rhona Smith is the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.

UN Special Rapporteurs serve in their individual capacity. They are not remunerated. They report every year to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Rapporteurs monitor, report and advise.

During her missions, Professor Smith meets with the highest level of government ministers, members of the diplomatic community, representatives of civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

She undertook her seventh mission to Cambodia from 29 April to 9 May 2019, at the invitation of the Royal Government.

Investigating Cambodia’s anti-drug campaign

Cambodia is in the second year of an extensive anti-drug campaign.

Thousands of arrests and pre-trial detention have had a huge impact on already overcrowded prisons. During earlier visits, Professor Smith observed and discussed this with prison governors, the Minister of Interior (Deputy Prime Minister) and the Minister of Justice.

In May 2019, Professor Smith visited a district hospital, social affairs centre and drug rehabilitation centre. She investigated community-based treatment programmes for drug users with dependency issues.

Investigating forced relocation

A field trip to Kampong Chhnang followed up her previous mission in November 2018. She visited some of the Khmer and ethnic Vietnamese floating communities in Tonle Sap.

Thousands of households are being relocated to dry land. These include many poor families reliant on fishing for their livelihood.

For ethnic Vietnamese, the problems of relocation are compounded. They are currently not recognised in Cambodia, despite living there for generations, and cannot own land.

This fieldwork contrasts with the many land rights, contested land concessions and forced relocations Professor Smith has worked on over the years.

A six-month delay in the forced relocation was secured in November. In May, the complex situation was again discussed with the Provincial Governor and a range of senior officials. Follow-up meetings with the Minister of Land Management and Urban Planning and the Minister of Interior were also held.

Rights and freedoms

Human rights are interdependent, indivisible and interrelated. Unsurprisingly, most issues investigated by the Special Rapporteur involve a range of rights and freedoms.

Professor Smith has regularly expressed concern at the restrictions on civil society and political space. Indeed, while she was in Cambodia, she spoke at two workers rallies for International Labour Day on 1 May and commented on freedom of expression and media restrictions on World Press Freedom Day on 3 May. Professor Smith presented her report to the UN in September 2019.

“Peace without justice is unsustainable; development without freedom leaves people behind.”

  • Professor Rhona Smith is Professor of International Human Rights and Head of the Law School at Newcastle University