Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia ADDENDUM: A human rights analysis of economic and other land concessions in Cambodia

ABSTRACTED FROM SUMMARY: The report, submitted in accordance with resolution 18/25 of 26 September 2011 of the Human Rights Council, is an assessment of the human rights impact of economic land concessions (ELCs) and other land concessions and major development projects in Cambodia (generally referred to as "land concessions" throughout the report unless otherwise specified). It includes not only an analysis of concessions pertaining to agro-industry (for example, rubber, sugar, acacia and cassava plantations), but also to concessions for mining, oil and gas, forestry, and concessions for the purposes of tourism, property development, and large scale infrastructure, such as hydropower dams. The report analyses information that I have received from the beginning of my mandate in 2009 through the end of July 2012, including the domestic legal framework governing land rights (and law and policies related to protected areas), international developments related to Cambodia‘s human rights obligations involving land, and the impacts of economic and other land concessions on the enjoyment of human rights. The cases selected reflect these submissions. The report is based on official government data and information, analysis, individual petitions and testimonial evidence submitted by individuals, communities and local and international non-governmental organizations. The report also benefits from research done by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Cambodia, which is carrying out ongoing monitoring and advocacy related to this issue. While all my activities are carried out with the cooperation of the Government, it should be noted that the official documentation needed for a complete analysis in some areas was not forthcoming, and thus gaps in information exist in some places.

Cambodia