A/HRC/42/60/Add.1 I. Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia 1. This addendum addresses the issue of those vulnerable to being left behind and discrimination in Cambodia. With the substantive focus of the current annual report 1 analysing Cambodia’s efforts to localise the Agenda 2030 UN sustainable development goals, analysing the situation of vulnerable and marginalised, disadvantaged groups contributes towards an understanding on who, if anyone, may be left behind whilst Cambodia continues on its path towards higher level development. This addendum draws together the work of the Special Rapporteur during her previous missions when she reported on particularly vulnerable or disadvantaged groups within Cambodia.2 It also reflects a number of recommendations made to Cambodia on related issues during the working group of the third cycle of Universal Periodic Review in January 20193 and in concluding observations of treaty bodies. Those vulnerable to being left behind frequently suffer from discrimination heightening their marginalisation. It is relevant to note that Cambodia has accepted the key UN treaties relevant to prohibiting discrimination.4 It has also accepted additional monitoring and investigation procedures including the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Inquiry procedure under the Convention against Torture, the Inquiry procedure under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced and the Inquiry procedure under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. No individual communications have progressed under CEDAW and no inquiries have been initiated. II. Understanding ‘non-discrimination’ ‘equality’ and ‘no one left behind’ 2. The Royal Kingdom of Cambodia has ratified international human rights treaties which include non-discrimination clauses. These prohibit discrimination on, and guarantee the rights and freedoms without discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.5 Other treaties aimed at eliminating discrimination against specific groups across a range of rights and freedoms have also been ratified by Cambodia. 6 Non-discrimination reflects the fundamental concept of universal rights and freedoms. Internationally proclaimed and protected rights and freedom should be available equally to everyone. Cambodia’s tragic history attests to the consequences of failing to respect everyone’s rights and freedoms. Indeed, in November 2018 the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia found genocide against both the Cham ethnic and religious group (also known as Khmer Islam) and the Vietnamese ethnic, religious and racial group; and the crime against humanity of 1 2 3 4 5 6 A/HRC/42/60. A/HRC/33/62 paras 10-27, A/HRC/36/61 paras 14-43, A/HRC/39/73 paras 15-51, A/HRC/42/60 paras 16, 23, 30, 34, 43, 57, 67 and 73. A/HRC/WG.6/32/L.14. Cambodia accepted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on 28 November 1983, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on 26 May 1992, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on the 15 October 1992, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 20 December 2012. Article 2 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Articles 2 and 26 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 2 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 3