OHCHR Cambodia 2017-2020

Reprogrammed funds to mitigate the consequences of covid-19 The effort includes support for OHCHR's country program in Cambodia and is thus not earmarked for specific activities. Sweden has supported OHCHR since 1994 via both global core support and country-specific support. The global Swedish core support to OHCHR for 2017 amounts to SEK 55 million. OHCHR was established in 1993 following a decision by the UN General Assembly and has a mandate to work for the strengthening and protection of all human rights for all. OHCHR works in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 48/141, the UN Charter, the UN Declaration on Human Rights and subsequent international conventions on human rights. The country program in Cambodia focuses on four overarching goals: 1) strengthening international mechanisms for the achievement of human rights; 2) defense of the democratic space; 3) fight impunity, strengthen accountability and judicial functions; and 4) integrate human rights as part of the overall development agenda and within the private sector. The effort is expected to contribute to improving the human rights situation in Cambodia. Through observation and reporting, OHCHR will make visible the human rights situation in the country, they will work for improved protection of human rights defenders, and to ensure that legislation complies with international human rights standards. OHCHR will provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to government institutions and the judiciary to implement and enforce human rights legislation. At the same time, OHCHR will work closely with civil society to increase its knowledge of its rights and inform about the various tools and mechanisms that are available to demand these. Furthermore, OHCHR works to combat discrimination and to strengthen the principles of the rule of law. The support is expected to benefit marginalized groups such as indigenous peoples, as well as homosexuals, bisexuals, transgender people and people with queer expressions and identities (HBTQ) and contribute to gender equality - as special emphasis is placed on working for equal access to the legal system and other services. Another important group that the support will pay attention to are defenders of human rights, especially vulnerable here are female defenders, as well as defenders in relation to land rights and the use of natural resources. Recently, the need for support for politically active people has also increased. The support is expected to improve access to the justice system for these groups, and is also expected to contribute to reduced impunity. A new regional Swedish support to the OHCHR's regional office in Bangkok (PLANit 10836), regarding the Asia and Pacific region, was decided at the beginning of December 2017. OHCHR Bangkok is tasked, among other things, with providing support to the office in Phnom Penh. The latter office also has the opportunity to participate in regional activities of various kinds. Since October 2017, Sida has been financing a reinforcement to the OHCHR country office in Cambodia in the form of a Junior Program Officer (PLANit 10560). Support to OHCHR is supplemented and strengthened through other actors who also receive Swedish support in Cambodia. This includes Transparency International Cambodia, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia), UNESCO as well as, the recently concluded collaboration with the ILO and the clothing company H&M. OHCHR is also in close contact and has a close collaboration with the majority of the non-governmental organizations that receive Swedish support via Forum Syd and Diakonia. The dialogue between Sida and OHCHR has worked well and OHCHR is considered to be a key player and important partner for Sweden in the area of ​​human rights. Coordination between OHCHR and other donors is ongoing both in Geneva, within the framework of the so-called "Rubens group" which consists of like-minded donors and OHCHR, and locally in Cambodia. In Cambodia, in 2016, Australia, Japan, Spain, Norway and Sweden contributed to a "Trust Fund" which provides support for the entire field office's operations. In addition to this, OHCHR also receives grants in the form of targeted project support, which includes grants from the EU.