Who is the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia?
The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to follow and report on the human rights situation in Cambodia. He is not a United Nations staff member, does not receive a salary from the United Nations, and does not work for any government or interest group. His task is to assess the human rights situation, report publicly about it, and work with the Government, civil society and others to foster international cooperation in this field. The Special Rapporteur undertakes regularly visits or missions to Cambodia and reports annually to the Human Rights Council. OHCHR provides him with logistical and technical assistance. The current Special Rapporteur is Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand), who was appointed in March 2021.
The Mandate of the Special Rapporteur
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur derives from the Paris Peace Accords (article 17 of the Agreement on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict and article 3 of the Agreement concerning the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia).
The Special Rapporteur's status as an independent expert makes him distinct from the OHCHR Country Office, which is controlled by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and is formally part of the United Nations Secretariat. Nevertheless, the two institutions share complementary mandates and work closely together. OHCHR provides secretariat services to the Special Rapporteur during his missions to Cambodia, as it does to all missions from the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Before 2008, the Cambodia mandate was held by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia (SRSG). The mandate-holder was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, although he still reported to the Human Rights Council. Formerly he also reported to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights. The name was changed in 2008 in line with the standardization of special procedures names.
Previous Special Rapporteurs and Special Representatives of the Secretary-General:
Ms. Rhona Smith (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) 2015-2021
Mr. Surya Subedi (Nepal) 2008-2015
Mr. Yash Ghai (Kenya) 2005-2008
Mr. Peter Leuprecht (Austria) 2000-2005
Mr. Thomas Hammarberg (Sweden) 1996-2000
Mr. Michael Kirby (Australia) 1993-1996