PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and the Russian Federation will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Human Rights Cooperation this week.
According to the Phnom Penh Post, the agreement is to facilitate the exchange of experience and good practices in regard to the protection and promotion of human rights.
Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) spokesman Chin Malin said the MoU would be signed in Moscow tomorrow between CHRC and Commissioner of Human Rights for the Russian Federation.
The MoU will focus on cooperation on the exchange of experiences, good practices and lessons on protecting the rights of citizens and promoting human rights.
“We will support each other on the regional and international stage, and work together to protect citizens of both countries.”
He said similar MoUs would be signed with other countries.
Cambodia has always cooperated with civil societies and other Asian and European countries to protect human rights and has held annual human rights dialogues with Japan and biennial human rights dialogues with Sweden.
“Cambodia has continually cooperated in human rights talks with Asean, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations, and has complied with the UN’s human rights mechanism.
“In honouring these ties, Cambodia adheres to the principles of peaceful coexistence.
“This means that we will cooperate with all countries for the sake of our people and the nation,” Malin said.
Rights group Adhoc spokesman Soeng Sen Karuna said on Sunday that although the government has the right to cooperate with any country, he found the agreement with Russia “strange” as it was a communist country.
He said human rights cooperation should instead be done with free countries, such as the United States and member states of the EU, as they placed a high value on it and adhered to international standards.
“I think the cooperation with Russia would raise a few eyebrows and spark some doubt because it is not a country that respects human rights.
“Instead, it’s where dissident voices are stifled.