Item 10 ID with SR on Cambodia, Nordic–Baltic Statement Delivered by Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi, Permanent Representative of Finland.
29.03.2022
President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Finland.
We thank the Special Rapporteur for his longstanding work and today’s important update on the human rights situation in Cambodia.
We appreciate Cambodia’s engagement with the Human Rights mechanisms, including the planned country visit of the Independent Expert on SOGI.
The Nordic-Baltic countries continue to have concerns about shrinking civic space, limitations of rights to freedom of assembly and expression, including for human rights defenders, trade union members and media.
As local and national elections are approaching, it is essential that alternative and critical voices are not hindered nor silenced, as opposition parties are a prerequisite of political pluralism.
We are concerned about the recent sentences and convictions in the mass trial against opposition figures and the negative effect this will have on Cambodian democracy.
Mr Special Rapporteur,
How can we best support Cambodia to strengthen human rights, rule of law and democracy?
Thank you.