LIBRARY

1 June 2004

A slideshow presentation on Women’s Rights in Cambodia 2004.

31 May 2004

Top, a 16-year-old girl, sold rice cakes to help support her destitute family. On the promise that she could earn more money working as a domestic helper, Top agreed to go with an older woman who brought her to a brothel and sold her for $50. On her first night, Top was beaten and forced to take five clients. On the fourth day, she managed to escape and is now in hiding because the brothel owner has hired a gang to find her. Top suffers from nightmares and other psychological distress, and is undergoing medical tests for sexually-transmitted diseases.

11 May 2004

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 17 local Human Rights NGOs, deplores the killing of Mr. Ros Sovanareth, representative of the Free Trade Union of workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia ( FTUWKC) and the president of Trinunggal Komara Factory Union. Ros Sovanareth was shot dead on May 7, 2004, on Kampuchea Krom boulevard, Sangkat Tek Laok, Khan Touk Kok, Phnom Penh. CHRAC sends its condolences to the family's victim.

"This is the second killing of a union leader this year, while the perpetrators who killed Chea Vichea, the president of the Free Trade Union association, have not been found" said Dr. Kek Galabru, the Chairperson of CHRAC and President of Licadho, adding that "this event intimidates the people and aggravates the political atmosphere."

1 May 2004

"(...)Human rights NGOs have long seen the need for a truly independent and effective National Human Rights Commission. An NGO draft law to establish such a commission has been in discussion by a group of NGOs since 1997, when it was written, and the fact that it is still being discussed today indicates its importance in ensuring human rights in Cambodia. The controversy that it has generated in negotiations reveals the power that the proposed commission would hold to challenge human rights abuses in the country.(...)"

Open letter by Dr. Kek Galabru, President of LICADHO

1 April 2004

Cambodian children love to study, but Cambodia lacks schools, teachers and materials. Poverty and corruption force most students, especially female students, to drop out before finishing secondary school. In many families, children play an important role in family survival, helping with various tasks such as farming, picking through garbage, and selling. Cambodian children are also vulnerable to abuses such as the worst forms of child labour, domestic violence, rape and trafficking.

25 March 2004

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 17 local human rights NGOs, welcomes the decision on March 19, 2004, by Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Hing Thirith, to dismiss charges against two men accused of killing union leader Chea Vichea. According to information received by CHRAC, judge Hing Thirith decided to drop the charges against Born Samnang, 23, and Sok Sam Oeun, 36, who were arrested on 27 and 28 January 2004 because his investigation had not uncovered sufficient evidence that they were involved in the January 22 murder of Chea Vichea. Hing Thirith also noted irregularities in supposed confessions made in the case, and CHRAC investigation indicated major differences between witness testimony and these supposed confessions. The above judge's decision is a step towards the independence of the judiciary.

11 March 2004

At 10:00 Morning, the Phnom Penh municipal court opened a trial to try Sam Doeun and his partner Nhim Sophea, who committed intentional killings on October 27,2003. CHRAC welcomes the court opening the hearing to try Nhim Sophea.CHRAC believes that the court should not open the trial in the criminal case in secret. CHRAC appeal to all levels of the courts to ensure transparency, respect the equality of the law and freedom to access to public information so that the people trust the Cambodian Judicial system.

5 March 2004

In every city, town and village in Cambodia, women and girls are subjected to rape and sexual abuse with little chance of obtaining justice, and with few rehabilitation services to help them recover. Instead, victims are often blamed, mocked or rejected by their families and communities and must endure the pain, shame and anger on their own while the perpetrators go unpunished. “Sadly, March 8th, International Women’s Day, is like any other day in Cambodia - a day when countless Cambodian women and girls will be raped and sexually abused,” says Kek Galabru, President of LICADHO. “Their lives will be destroyed, while many of their abusers will live freely without punishment.”

1 March 2004

LICADHO took the occasion of International Women`s Day to release this report, which details problems related to prosecution of rape in the Cambodian legal system, as well as the challenges victims face.

12 February 2004

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 17 local NGOs, appeals for the release of Born Sam Nang and Sok Sam Oeun, who were arrested and detained for the January 22 murder of union leader Chea Vichea. CHRAC believes there is inadequate evidence against the suspects and their arrests did not follow lawful procedures.

22 January 2004

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) deplores the killing of union leader Chea Vichea this morning, and demands swift action by the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. Chea Vichea, President of the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was shot dead at approximately 9:30 AM while reading a newspaper at a newstand on Street 51 near Wat Lanka in Phnom Penh. An unidentified gunman walked up to him and shot him three times, before escaping with an accomplice who had been waiting on a motorcycle.

22 December 2003

LICADHO released a report documenting the increase of attacks in which the perpetrator pours acid on the victim, causing serious disfigurement. LICADHO called for stronger action to punish and prevent such acid attacks.

19 December 2003

LICADHO welcomed charges brought against two U.S. citizens in courts in the United States for alleged fraud while arranging adoptions of Cambodian children. LICADHO hoped that such investigations would deter abuses during the adoption process.

15 December 2003

Following the deportation of 11 Montagnard asylum seekers, CHRAC urged the government to allow asylum claims to be determined through a fair and transparent process. Given the strong possibility that Montagnards would face persecution in Vietnam, Cambodia is required under the Refugee Convention not to forcibly deport them.

15 December 2003

CHRAC urged the Cambodian government to grant permission to two organizations to organize a rally to celebrate International Anti-Corruption Day, despite indications from the government that permission would not be granted.

1 December 2003

In this report, the Neutral and Impartial Committee on Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC), releases its final evaluation of whether the July 2003 National Assembly Elections in Cambodia were free and fair.

1 December 2003

This briefing paper provides the most recent update on the nature and extent of threats facing human rights defenders in Cambodia.

1 December 2003

Throwing acid is one of the worst crimes that a person can commit. The perpetrator usually does not want to kill the victim, but wants to do something worse than murder - make the victim suffer forever. Acid melts human flesh and even bones, causing excruciating pain and terror, and leaves the victims mutilated and scarred for the rest of their lives. Some suffer permanent disabilities such as blindness.

In this report LICADHO explores the increase in the use of acid in attacks and documents the reasons for its use.

30 November 2003

CAMBOW announced that it would hold activities in Phnom Penh and three provinces as part of the International 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.

23 October 2003

CHRAC expressed concern about tension and security in Cambodia following the shooting of popular singer Touch Sunich, which followed only a few days after the murder of a radio station editor.