Situation of human rights in Cambodia, G.A. res. 48/154, 48 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 278, U.N. Doc. A/48/49 (1993).


The General Assembly,

Guided by the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights,

Taking note of the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict signed on 23 October 1991, including part III thereof, relating to human rights,

Taking note also of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/6 of 19 February 1993,

Bearing in mind the role and responsibilities of the United Nations and the international community in the process of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cambodia,

Recognizing that the tragic recent history of Cambodia requires special measures to assure the protection of the human rights of all people in the country and the non-return to the policies and practices of the past, as stipulated in the agreements signed in Paris on 23 October 1991,

Welcoming the elections of May 1993 and the inauguration of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia,

1. Welcomes the establishment in Cambodia of an operational presence of the Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat:

(a) To manage the implementation of educational and technical assistance and advisory services programmes, and to ensure their continuation;

(b) To assist the Government of Cambodia established after the election, at its request, in meeting its obligations under the human rights instruments recently adhered to, including the preparation of reports to the relevant monitoring committees;

(c) To provide support to bona fide human rights groups in Cambodia;

(d) To contribute to the creation and/or strengthening of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights;

(e) To continue to assist with the drafting and implementation of legislation to promote and protect human rights;

(f) To continue to assist with the training of persons responsible for the administration of justice;

2. Requests the Secretary-General, in line with all effective measures, to assure the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to ensure adequate resources, from within existing overall United Nations resources, for the functioning of the operational presence of the Centre for Human Rights in Cambodia;

3. Welcomes the appointment by the Secretary-General of a Special Representative to undertake the tasks set out in paragraph 6 of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/6;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary resources, from within existing resources, to enable the Special Representative to fulfil those tasks expeditiously;

5. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session on the role of the Centre for Human Rights in assisting the Cambodian Government and people in the promotion and protection of human rights and on any recommendations made by the Special Representative on matters within his mandate;

6. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in Cambodia at its forty-ninth session.

85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993