Justice Initiative Urges Top-Level UN Engagement in Cambodia

The Open Society Justice Initiative has urged UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a senior-level advisor to lead UN participation in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. 

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has demonstrated that, with rigorous oversight, it can hold a credible trial that meets international standards and engages a large number of Cambodians in better understanding their history and the value of an independent judicial process.

The road to this accomplishment has been difficult and the achievements of the ECCC are at risk if due attention is not paid by the UN, a partner in the court, to troubling issues that threaten its credibility and independence. Serious challenges include ongoing evidence of political interference from the Cambodian Government in prosecutorial and judicial decision making, failure to implement an adequate anti-corruption mechanism, key management issues impacting efficiency and timeliness of proceedings, and critical but time-consuming fundraising needs.

In order to address these challenges, the UN should appoint a senior advisor at the level of an Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) with full authority to deal with Cambodian government officials, donor states, and the ECCC.