人権デーは、世界中で続く人権のための格闘を想起し、人権を侵害された人々の傷みと、人権侵害を目撃し、その根絶のために闘っていると人々の功績を認識する日です。今日は、単に過去や現在のことを思い起こすだけでなく、将来に向かって、すべての人間が自由で平等で尊厳をもっている平和な世界を求めて行動を続けていくことを呼びかける日です。

　 今年のカンボジアの人権デーは、カンボジアの草の根のグループを含む幅広い人権活動家によって、「私たちはみな人権活動家である」というテーマの下で、祝福されます。重要なことは、人権擁護は選ばれたグループの人たちの活動ではなく、すべての人々の責任であり役割であるということです。

　 残念なことに、Yeng Virak、 Kem Sokha 、 Pa Nguon Teangといった著名な人権活動家が、昨年の人権デーにおいて、政府を批判するコメントを書いた人権デーを祝う横断幕を掲げたことにより、カンボジアの首相の名誉を毀損したとして逮捕されました。国際社会のこの逮捕に対する批判を受けて、活動家たちは釈放されました。しかしながら、その後も、今年２００６年に、人権ＮＧＯ職員、労働組合活動家、社会活動家といった多くの人権活動家がいやがらせを受け、拘束され、襲われています。このような事態は、カンボジアにおける人権の発展を深刻に脅かすものです。

　Human Rights Day is a reminder of the enduring human rights struggles occurring throughout the world; an acknowledgment of the pain and the courage of the numerous individuals and communities whose rights have been violated; and a tribute to the many persons who bear witness to such abuses and work to eradicate them. It is a day not only to reflect on the past and the present, but also to look forward ? a call to action to continue to strive for a just and peaceful world in which all human beings are truly born free and equal in dignity and rights.

　We understand that this year’s Human Rights Day is being celebrated in Cambodia, by a wide range of human rights defenders including grassroots community groups, under the theme “We Are All Human Rights Defenders”. It is important to recognize that defending human rights is not the task of any one select group of people; it is the role and responsibility of all of people.

　Regrettably, we have witnessed that the country’s most prominent human rights activists, Yeng Virak, Kem Sokha and Pa Nguon Teang were arrested and charged with defamation of Prime Minister after last Human Rights Day. The arrests related with the displaying of a banner at the December 10 celebration which contained a critical comments for the governmental conduct. Subsequently, the International community’s criticism toward these arrests led the release of the activists. However, even after the incidents, long list of human rights defenders, such as human rights NGO worker, union activists and community activists have been either detained by authority or threatened and assaulted in the year 2006. Such incidents seriously undermine progress of human rights in Cambodia.

　As a Japan-based non-governmental organization founded by a collective of lawyers, academics and activists to work for the improvement of human rights standards world-wide, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, Human Rights Now urges Cambodian government to take all necessary measure to prevent the violence, arbitrary detention and harassments toward the human rights defenders, in particular, by investigating and prosecuting all perpetrators of alleged attacks. We also urge the government to end any suppression on Cambodian people’s freedom of expression.

　Finally, Human Rights Now calls upon international donor community to continue its commitment on human rights in Cambodia by monitoring and whistling of the human rights situation.