"Briefing Note on Business and Human Rights Corporate Accountability in Land Rights Violations", 25 December 2020

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) is proud to announce the release of its Briefing Note on Business and Human Rights entitled Corporate Accountability in Land Rights Violations. This Briefing Note aims to provide an overview of the challenges of seeking corporate accountability in Cambodia, examining the various mechanisms available to those facing land rights violations in the country, and the methods employed by the communities to achieve a resolution…

The systematic violation of land rights is one of the most prevalent human rights issues in modern Cambodia. A core part of this problem is that it is difficult to hold companies accountable for their human rights impacts. Businesses across the globe have an impact, directly or indirectly, on virtually all human rights.

… In this report, CCHR looks at the challenges of seeking corporate accountability for communities in four land disputes which, taken together, affected more than 1,800 households: the land dispute involving indigenous communities and rubber company Socfin-KCD in Mondulkiri Province; the dispute involving villagers and Mitr Phol Sugar Company in Oddar Meanchey Province; the dispute involving villagers and the MDS Company in the MDS Thmor Da Special Economic Zone in Pursat Province; and finally, the dispute between villagers and Koh Kong Sugar Industry Co. Ltd and Koh Kong Plantation Co. Ltd in Koh Kong Province.

…, CCHR identified 9 areas of concern which hinder achieving corporate accountability in Cambodia… The Briefing Note ends with 26 recommendations to the Royal Government of Cambodia, companies operating in Cambodia and civil society organizations…