Participants at the pilot training, held last week in Phnom Penh. OHCHR
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in Cambodia concluded a two-day pilot training course for judges and prosecutors on October 18-19. The primary focus of the training was to identify international human rights norms concerning gender stereotyping.
The aim was to foster the protection of human rights and enhance access to justice, particularly for women and individuals who face marginalisation due to their sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, said an OHCHR press release.
Conducted under the theme “Addressing Gender Bias in the Judiciary”, the training was held in partnership with the Royal Academy for Justice of Cambodia (RAJP). Attendees were addressed by a range of international judicial and human rights specialists.
A total of 35 participants attended, including representatives from the provincial Appeal Courts, judges and prosecutors from several provinces, as well as officials from the Ministry of Justice.
RAJP president Chhorn Proloeung explained that the training was centred on enhancing the capabilities of judges and prosecutors concerning international human rights norms. It facilitated an exchange of experiences with specialists with international, regional and domestic backgrounds, in order to teach the participants to recognise and address gender stereotypes within the judiciary.
Roueida El Hage, country representative of OHCHR in Cambodia, described the training as a significant milestone in the broader context of cooperation between the justice ministry and the academy.
“The course content will become an integral part of RAJP’s curriculum, ensuring the enduring transfer of this knowledge,” she said.
According to the release, the judiciary bears the responsibility to guarantee that all legal procedures in cases involving gender-based violence allegations maintain impartiality, fairness and remain free from stereotypes or discriminatory interpretations of legal provisions.
It added that this responsibility extends not only to judges, but also to prosecutors, lawyers, law enforcement officials and all other individuals within the judicial system.
The statement noted that the participants of the training expressed the need to share the information they received more widely within the court and law enforcement systems. This includes police officers, community leaders, court personnel and investigators, as well as various other stakeholders.
“The UN Human Rights Office is dedicated to assisting Cambodia in upholding its international human rights responsibilities and addressing gender-stereotyped practices,” added the statement.
