Cambodia: Business and human rights principles* Prepared by Sek Sophorn Relevance of BHR in Cambodia E conomic growth in Cambodia has reached between six to seven percent over the last decade (Adler and Hwang, 2013).1 This has become the enabling environment for the alleviation of poverty among the population. The growth has apparently been fueled in large part by the government’s liberal national economic policies. While business activity in Cambodia has provided significant social benefits—including job production, economic growth, poverty reduction, and improved standards of living—many corporate actors have also been reported as responsible for widespread human rights abuses. Government-sponsored Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) have created jobs, but have also adversely affected roughly half a million Cambodians (LICADHO, 2014) causing the forced evictions of entire families, communities, and vulnerable populations. Clearly, there is a need for further oversight action from the government before the approval of land development projects. This includes recognition and protection of legitimate rights to land, as well as use rights to forest or nontimber forest products. If the resettlement or displacement cannot be avoided, effective remedy is required. * This is an abridged version of the paper prepared by Sek Sophorn for STAR Kampuchea for the regional initiative “Defending Land Rights and Human Rights Defenders.” This document summarizes the major issues and recommendations emanating from the workshops organized by STAR Kampuchea in partnership with the members of the National Engagement Strategy-Cambodia (NES Cambodia) and Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC). It builds on the findings and recommendations of the baseline study prepared by the same author for Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria (KPA) for the project “Promoting the National Action Plans on the implementation of the UNGP on Business and Human Rights in relation to land rights issue” with support from OXFAM Indonesia. For more details, contact: star-director@starkampuchea.org.kh Citation: Sek, S. (2018). Cambodia: Business and human rights principles. In ANGOC (Ed.) Upholding Land Rights Amidst the Land Rush: A situationer on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in selected countries in Asia (pp. 37-42). Quezon City: ANGOC and KPA. 1 “From 2000 through 2006 the average compound economic growth was 9.4 percent a year; in 2007 growth reached 10.2 percent... Garments, tourism, construction and agriculture have been the primary drivers of the economy. In 1996, there were only 32 garment factories, employing an estimated 20,000 workers; by 1998, there were over 100 garment factories, employing 72,000 workers…By mid2008, the figures had increased to over 300 active factories employing around 340,000 workers, 90 percent of whom were women” (Adler and Hwang, 2013). ANGOC and KPA 37