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APF to advise on draft legislation to establish Cambodian NHRI

Graphic: Aerial shot of Phnom Penh

The Government of Cambodia has requested the APF to provide advice on draft legislation to establish a national human rights institution.

Asia Pacific Forum LogoAsia Pacific Forum

The Government of Cambodia has requested the APF to provide advice on draft legislation to establish a national human rights institution (NHRI) for the South East Asian nation.

Establishing an independent NHRI is one of the recommendations accepted by the Cambodian Government following its most recent participation in the Universal Periodic Review in January 2019.

The APF, represented by the Director and the Legal and Policy Manager, held a videoconference forum with representatives of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), including a Core Group of Experts, on 9 October 2020.

The CHRC and the Core Group presented an overview of the approach that had been taken to develop the draft legislation.


One of the primary roles of the APF is to support governments and civil society in our region to establish independent and effective NHRIs that comply with the Paris Principles.

Asia Pacific Forum Logo Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director, APF secretariat

The APF will review the current draft and prepare advice for the CHRC on any amendments that may be required to ensure the proposed NHRI complies with the key requirements of the Paris Principles.

The Paris Principles set out the minimum standards required by NHRIs to be considered credible and to operate effectively, including:

The Paris Principles also require NHRIs to develop systematic programs of engagement with civil society and with the international human rights community.

Date: 21 October 2020


Image credits

  1. Aerial shot of Phnom Penh - Paul Szewczyk on Unspalsh