Foreign Ministry Aid Programs for Cambodia
On 20th June 2007, Human Rights Now published a proposal on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aid program for Cambodia, calling for the Japanese government to request the Cambodian government to protect and promote the human rights of people in Cambodia through development aids and their implementations.
Kazuko Ito, Secretary General of Human Rights Now, attended the Consultative Group Meeting on Cambodia, on 19th June, and stated that “The Cambodian government promised to establish the rule of law, guarantee human rights and achieve good governance many times in response to receipt of Japan’s aid programs. However, only a few of them have been achieved so far and, consequently, people in Cambodia have made large sacrifices. The Japanese government, as the biggest donor to Cambodia, should take responsibility for calling on the Cambodian government to promote and guarantee human rights.”
The proposal includes recommendations such as investigation and publication of human rights situations in Cambodia, reflection on the investigation of aid programs, adoption of a rights based approach to development, prevention of human rights violations by Japan’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), and accountability for aid programs. Other recommendations include a free and fair election system, an independent and fair judicial system, eradication of corruption and the realization of transitional justice are included in the proposal.
A copy of the proposal which is only available in Japanese language is available online here, along with an accompanying press release from HRN.