ARTICLE

Report on Rape in Cambodia
8 March 2010. LICADHO partner Amnesty International released their report "Breaking the silence: Sexual Violence in Cambodia", to coincide with International Women's Day which was celebrated across the country. The report highlights how corruption and discrimination within the police and courts in Cambodia are preventing survivors of rape from receiving justice and assistance, while most perpetrators are going unpunished.

Anti-Corruption Law Adopted
11 March 2010. An anti-corruption law was discussed and passed by the National Assembly with 82 votes in favor from the 82 voters present. The draft law was only given to law makers the week before the law was debated and was passed without any changes after only one and half days of debate. Civil society widely criticized the draft law for its lack of independence, failure to meet international standards and absence of consultation from civil society.

Royal Government of Cambodia Accepts Recommendation from UN Human Rights Council
18 March 2010. The Cambodian government accepted the recommendation stemming from the country's first every Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on human rights. The recommendation included calls for improving children's rights, ensuring freedom of expression and prioritizing the issue of land evictions, at a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 18.

Land Grabbing Protest Forces Release of Arrested Community Representatives
18 March 2010. Angry villagers in Omlaing commune, Thpong Dstrict, Kompong Speu burnt down shelters belonging to the Phnom Penh Sugar Company (which is owned by CPP senator Ly Yong Phat) after a long standing land dispute reached a stalemate. Two community representatives were later arrested on charges of incitement. Following several days of protests by up to 500 villagers with repeated clashes with police and military the two representatives were finally released on bail on 29 March 2010.