<\/p>\n
We express our solidarity Human Rights Day is a We understand that this year’s Human Rights Day is being Regrettably, we have witnessed that the country’s most As a Japan-based non-governmental organization founded by a Finally, Human Rights Now calls upon international donor Human Rights Now calls for As a Japan-based Reputable organizations We seize the occasion of Human Rights Now expresses While the establishment of We call for the charges of “rebellion” Finally, we note that it is <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We express our solidarity and support for human rights defenders in Cambodia on this day, December 10, Human Rights Day. 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[157,154,15,102],"countries":[253],"class_list":["post-49","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-statement","tag-accountability-for-gross-human-rights-violations","tag-defenders-democratic-space","tag-extrajudicial-killings-war-crime-and-crimes-against-humanity","tag-human-rights-defenders-independence-of-judiciary","countries-cambodia"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\nand support for human rights defenders in Cambodia on this day, December 10,
\nHuman Rights Day. <\/span>
<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nreminder of the enduring human rights struggles occurring throughout the world;
\nan acknowledgment of the pain and the courage of the numerous individuals and
\ncommunities whose rights have been violated; and a tribute to the many persons
\nwho bear witness to such abuses and work to eradicate them. It is a day not
\nonly to reflect on the past and the present, but also to look forward ? a call
\nto action to continue to strive for a just and peaceful world in which all
\nhuman beings are truly born free and equal in dignity and rights.
\ncelebrated in Cambodia, by a wide range of human rights defenders including
\ngrassroots community groups, under the theme “We Are All Human Rights
\nDefenders”. It is important to recognize that defending human rights is
\nnot the task of any one select group of people; it is the role and
\nresponsibility of all of people.
\nprominent human rights activists, Yeng Virak, Kem Sokha and Pa Nguon Teang were
\narrested and charged with defamation of Prime Minister after last Human Rights
\nDay. The arrests related with the displaying of a banner at the December 10
\ncelebration which contained a critical comments for the governmental conduct.
\nSubsequently, the International community’s criticism toward these arrests led
\nthe release of the activists. However, even after the incidents, long list of
\nhuman rights defenders, such as human rights NGO worker, union activists and
\ncommunity activists have been either detained by authority or threatened and
\nassaulted in the year 2006. Such incidents seriously undermine progress of
\nhuman rights in Cambodia.
\ncollective of lawyers, academics and activists to work for the improvement of
\nhuman rights standards world-wide, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region,
\nHuman Rights Now urges Cambodian government to take all necessary measure to
\nprevent the violence, arbitrary detention and harassments toward the human
\nrights defenders, in particular, by investigating and prosecuting all perpetrators
\nof alleged attacks. We also urge the government to end any suppression on
\nCambodian people’s freedom of expression.
\ncommunity to continue its commitment on human rights in Cambodia by monitoring
\nand whistling of the human rights situation.
\nan End to Impunity for Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines Human Rights
\nNow expresses its serious concern for the spate of extrajudicial killings that
\ncontinues unabated in The Philippines. According to human rights organizations
\nin the Philippines, there have been 783 victims of extrajudicial killings since
\nthe start of President Arroyo’s term of office in 2001. The occurrences of 184
\nforced disappearances, as well as many other cases of torture, physical
\nassault, harassment and intimidation are also of grave concern.
\nnon-governmental organization founded by a collective of lawyers, academics and
\nactivists to work for the improvement of human rights situations world-wide,
\nparticularly in the Asia-Pacific region, Human Rights Now calls on the Arroyo
\ngovernment to muster the necessary political will and work expeditiously to
\nbringing an end to the killings. The fact that citizens ? including lawyers,
\nreligious leaders, journalists and human rights defenders ? who exercise their
\ndemocratic right of political expression and association, are being targeted
\nand killed, cannot be tolerated.
\nsuch as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Dutch Lawyers for
\nLawyers Foundation, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Joint
\nForeign Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines have released documents and
\nstatements condemning the extrajudicial killings. Based on these national and
\ninternational reports, we are greatly alarmed by the continued violence and
\nappalled that the Arroyo government has allowed them to continue for so long.
\nThere is no place for such human rights violations, particularly in a country
\nwhich prides itself on having established a modern democracy.
\nHuman Rights Day ? 10 December 2006 ? to raise our voices and let the people of
\nthe Philippines know that such atrocities are not being ignored by the
\ninternational community.
\nits grave concern that a culture of impunity is developing around these
\nextrajudicial killings, as the government fails to properly investigate
\nsuspected perpetrators. To date, the number of convictions remains at zero. The
\nlack of adequate protection for witnesses and victims’ families must also be
\nrapidly addressed so that testimonies can be duly made. This is a basic
\nprocedural safeguard that must be met in order for an effective process of
\njustice to take root. The government must also work to restore public trust in
\nthe police to do their job with integrity.
\nserious government-initiated investigation is welcomed in theory, we emphasize
\nthe fundamental importance of a fully independent and impartial investigation
\ncarried out by credible and experienced individuals. To this end, we remain
\ncautious about the capacity of the Melo Commission to carry out such a
\nfunction.
\nmade against dozens of individuals, including the former President of the
\nUniversity of the Philippines, Professor Francisco Nemenzo, to be reassessed in
\nlight of their actual legal basis.
\nregrettable that the national peace process has broken down. We urge the Arroyo
\ngovernment to commit itself to the prevention and prosecution of these
\nextrajudicial killings. In doing this, it would regain the respect of the
\ninternational community and also recreate an environment that is conducive to
\ndeveloping the peace and ushering in greater prosperity for the country.