UN Criticizes Cambodia’s Supreme Court for Upholding Trade Union Leader’s Conviction

Geneva, The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed deep concern over the Cambodian Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the conviction of trade union leader Chhim Sithar. Sithar was charged with “incitement to felony or disturb social order” following her involvement in a 2021 strike at the NagaWorld Casino in Phnom Penh, which was primarily about layoffs.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sithar, who was sentenced in May 2023 along with eight others to varying jail terms, remains the only one currently serving time. The other individuals involved received either suspended sentences or are under monitoring orders. The UN has called for the immediate release of Sithar and for all convictions related to the case to be quashed, arguing that the charges were merely for exercising the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

These rights, as stated by the UN, are not only protected under the Cambodian Constitution but also under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Cambodia is a signatory since 1992. The covenant upholds the rights to hold meetings, sit-ins, and strikes, emphasizing the ability of individuals to organize and collectively express and pursue common interests.

The Human Rights Office emphasized the importance of a vibrant and inclusive democracy that respects diverse voices and opinions, particularly those expressing dissent, as fundamental to Cambodia’s social and economic development. The office urged Cambodia to adhere more closely to international human rights protections and foster an environment where people can freely exercise their rights.