Human Rights Committee
Concluding observations on the third periodic report of Cambodia *
1.The Committee considered the third periodic report of Cambodia at its 3850th, 3852nd and 3854th meetings, held on 9, 10 and 11 March 2022. The meetings were held in hybrid format, owing to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. At its 3868th and 3870th meetings, held on 22 and 23 March 2022, the Committee adopted the present concluding observations.
A.Introduction
2.The Committee welcomes the submission of the third periodic report of Cambodia and the information presented therein. It expresses appreciation for the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue with the State party’s high-level delegation on the measures taken during the reporting period to implement the provisions of the Covenant. The Committee is grateful to the State party for its written replies to the list of issues, which were supplemented by the oral responses provided by the delegation, and for the additional information provided to it in writing.
B.Positive aspects
3.The Committee welcomes the adoption by the State party of the following legislative, policy and institutional measures:
(a)The Law on Juvenile Justice of 14 July 2016 and the Juvenile Justice Strategic and Operational Plan, 2018–2020;
(b)Sub-decree No. 155 on the Organization and Functioning of Youth Rehabilitation Centres of 29 September 2017, to manage the detention of children;
(c)The third National Action Plan on the Prevention of Violence against Women, 2019–2023;
(d)The creation of the National Committee against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by Royal Decree 0817/619 of 22 August 2017;
(e)The National Strategic Plan of Identification, 2017–2026, to ensure that every person has a legal identity.
C.Principal matters of concern and recommendations
Applicability of the Covenant
4.While noting that the State party provides continuous training to judges and lawyers on international human rights law, including the Covenant, the Committee remains concerned about the insufficient application of the rights enshrined therein by the domestic courts in their decisions and the consequent gaps in protection. The Committee regrets that the State party has not yet ratified the first Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which provides for the consideration of individual communications (art. 2).
5. The State party should intensify its efforts to raise awareness of the Covenant among judges, prosecutors, lawyers and the public at large to ensure that its provisions are taken into account by national courts. The State party should ratify the first Optional Protocol to the Covenant, which provides for the consideration of individual communications.
National human rights institution
6.The Committee takes note of the State party’s progress regarding the establishment of a national human rights institution by introducing a new draft law in 2021. However, the Committee remains concerned about the distrust expressed by civil society organizations, human rights defenders and trade unions with regard to the establishment of a credible, effective and independent national human rights institution without a meaningful consultation process (art. 2).
7. Recalling the Committee ’ s previous recommendations, the State party should make further progress towards the creation of a national human rights institution in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). The State party should carry out an open, transparent and meaningful consultation process on the draft law, ensuring the participation of a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations.
Anti-corruption measures
8.While noting the measures adopted to combat corruption, the Committee is concerned about the lack of procedural safeguards in the Anti-Corruption Law, as well as the lack of its effective enforcement. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of independent and effective investigations carried out by the Anti-Corruption Unit and the low number of cases of corruption that are reported and for which perpetrators are punished, in part due to fear of retaliation. The Committee also notes with concern reports of corruption regarding land-grabbing and encroachment on protected forests, as well as illegal logging and irregularities in granting contracts for development projects.
9. The State party should increase its efforts to prevent and eradicate corruption and impunity at all levels. It should ensure that all cases of corruption, including those related to land issues, illegal logging and contracts for development projects, are independently and thoroughly investigated, that those responsible are duly tried and adequately punished, and that victims receive full reparation. The State party should ensure adequate protection for whistle-blowers, witnesses and victims of corruption, including by adopting the draft law on reporting persons and the draft law on witnesses, experts and victims, after open, transparent and meaningful consultations with civil society and other relevant stakeholders.
State of emergency
10.The Committee is concerned about the information received on the far-reaching powers that the Law on the Management of the Nation in State of Emergency, promulgated in April 2020, confers on the Government to severely constrain the exercise of a range of fundamental rights and freedoms. It is also deeply concerned about the adoption and implementation of the Law on Preventive Measures against the Spread of COVID-19 and other Severe and Dangerous Contagious Diseases, promulgated in March 2021, which establishes severe sanctions in case of non-compliance, leading to disproportionate restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly when it is used to disperse peaceful assemblies. The Committee regrets the lack of debate and consultation with civil society organizations before the adoption of these laws (art. 4).
11.The State party should review and amend its laws on states of emergency and COVID-19, in order to ensure their full compliance with the requirements of article 4 of the Covenant, as interpreted in the Committee’s general comment No. 29 (2001) on derogations from provisions of the Covenant during a state of emergency and the Committee’s statement on derogations from the Covenant in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The State party should guarantee that any measure introduced to protect the population in the context of a state of emergency, including a pandemic, are temporary, proportionate and strictly necessary, and subject to judicial review. The State party should ensure that the review and amendment of such legislation involves an open, transparent and meaningful consultation process with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations.
Fight against impunity and past human rights violations
12.The Committee reiterates its concern about the lack of progress in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for past human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances that occurred after the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements in 1991. The Committee is also concerned about the inaction of the State party, including its domestic courts, in response to the termination of cases in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia without an analysis of the merits, which may leave past human rights violations unaddressed (arts. 2, 6–7 and 14).
13. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendations regarding impunity for serious human rights violations. The State party should comply with its obligation to investigate past human rights violations that occurred under the Pol Pot regime, as well as after the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements, prosecute the perpetrators, punish them with penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crimes where appropriate, and provide full reparation, including adequate compensation, to the families of the victims.
Non-discrimination
14.The Committee remains concerned about the discrimination and systemic exclusion faced by ethnic minorities, in particular Khmer Krom and Cambodians of Vietnamese origin, including the denial of identity documents, which limits their access to other rights. The Committee is also concerned about the discrimination, segregation and stigma faced by persons with disabilities, as well as by lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons, which often entails violence (arts. 2 and 26).
15. The State party should:
(a) Adopt comprehensive legislation prohibiting discrimination, including multiple, direct and indirect discrimination, in all spheres, in both the public and the private sectors, on all the grounds prohibited under the Covenant, including race, colour, sex, political or other opinion, national or social origin, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, or any other status, and ensure access to effective and appropriate remedies for victims of discrimination;
(b) Take effective measures to combat discrimination and exclusion against ethnic minorities, in particular Khmer Krom and Cambodians of Vietnamese origin, including by ensuring that they have access to identity documents;
(c) Prevent discrimination and violence against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons, as well as against persons with disabilities, including by conducting public awareness-raising campaigns to combat their social stigmatization.
Gender equality
16.The Committee remains concerned about the persistence of discriminatory norms and gender stereotypes in relation to women’s role in society. It also notes with concern the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership and decision-making roles at all levels of public life. Moreover, the Committee is concerned that the Labour Law of 1997 does not include the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, and that it does not protect domestic workers, who are mainly women (art. 3).
17. The State party should strengthen the measures aimed at ensuring gender equality, including by:
(a) Ensuring that legislation and policies on gender equality are effectively implemented and reviewing the Labour Law of 1997 with a view to ensuring the implementation of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value and guaranteeing the full protection of domestic workers;
(b) Raising public awareness of the principle of equality between women and men and the need to eliminate gender stereotypes, and ensuring that media outlets promote positive images of women as active participants in public and political life;
(c) Intensifying its efforts to achieve, within specific time frames, the full and equal participation of women in political and public life, including in the National Assembly, ministerial positions, regional and local municipalities, and the judiciary, particularly in decision-making positions.
Violence against women
18.While the Committee takes note of the State party’s efforts to combat violence against women, it remains concerned at the delay in discussing and adopting the amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Victims of 2005, which contains several gaps, leading to the revictimization of those whose rights have been violated and limitations on their access to justice. The Committee also notes with concern the prevalence of societal tolerance of violence against women and the practice of victim-blaming. It regrets the lack of information on the number of complaints, prosecutions and convictions relating to violence against women (arts. 2–3, 6–7 and 26).
19. Recalling the Committee ’ s previous recommendation on gender-based violence, the State party should take steps to ensure that the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Victims of 2005 is reviewed and amended to comprehensively define and criminalize domestic violence and to ensure effective investigations in line with the Covenant and other international standards. The State party should also ensure that cases of violence against women are thoroughly investigated, that perpetrators are prosecuted and, if convicted, commensurate penalties are imposed, and that victims have access to effective remedies, receive full reparation, including adequate compensation, and have access to adequate protection and assistance. It should continue conducting awareness-raising campaigns on violence against women for the public and ensure that functionaries in the legal system, including judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers, receive appropriate training in this regard.
Right to life
20.The Committee is deeply concerned about the numerous and serious allegations regarding extrajudicial killings of opposition leaders, human rights defenders, journalists and land rights activists in the State party, including the killing of the opposition member Sin Khon, in November 2021. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of effective and impartial investigations into these killings, which remain unaddressed (art. 6).
21. The State party should, as a priority, ensure that all allegations of extrajudicial killings are promptly, impartially and thoroughly investigated; that all perpetrators, irrespective of their official capacity or position, are prosecuted; and that, if convicted, penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crimes are imposed. The State party should take all necessary measures to prevent such killings, determine the facts and provide full reparation to the victims ’ families.
Prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
22.The Committee notes with concern that, while article 210 of the Criminal Code prohibits torture and acts of cruelty, this provision does not provide a legal definition of torture and ill-treatment. The Committee is also concerned about allegations of the lack of independence of the National Committee against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as about its inability to conduct visits to prisons and interview detainees. Furthermore, the Committee is deeply concerned about the serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment occurring in police custody and in other places of detention, which in some cases have resulted in death (arts. 6–7 and 9–10).
23. The State party should take urgent and robust measures to eradicate torture and ill-treatment, including by:
(a) Revising its legislation with a view to ensuring that it contains a definition of torture that is fully compliant with article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and with article 7 of the Covenant;
(b) Enabling the National Committee against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to carry out its functions independently and effectively, including to conduct regular and unannounced visits to all places of detention;
(c) Conducting prompt, thorough, effective, transparent and impartial investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment, in line with the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Istanbul Protocol), ensuring that perpetrators are prosecuted and, if convicted, punished appropriately and that victims receive full reparation;
(d) Guaranteeing the protection of complainants against reprisals and ensuring that any case of reprisal is investigated and that the perpetrators are prosecuted and, if convicted, punished appropriately.
Conditions of detention
24.While taking note of the State party’s efforts to reduce overcrowding and improve conditions in places of detention, the Committee remains concerned at reports that the prison population has been increasing considerably, with the average prison occupancy exceeding 300 per cent of capacity. The Committee also notes with concern that many prisoners do not have adequate access to food, clean water and medical treatment. Moreover, it is concerned about reports of numerous outbreaks of COVID-19 in overcrowded prisons without adequate access for prisoners to medical treatment and testing (arts. 7 and 10).
25. The State party should intensify its efforts to ensure that the conditions of detention are in full compliance with relevant international human rights standards, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). It should, in particular:
(a) Significantly reduce overcrowding in prisons, particularly through the wider application of non-custodial measures as an alternative to imprisonment;
(b) Intensify its efforts to improve the conditions of detention and ensure adequate access to food, clean water and health care for prisoners in all places of deprivation of liberty, particularly in places of detention where outbreaks of COVID-19 have been identified.
Liberty and security of the person
26.The Committee is concerned about the high number of persons held in pretrial detention, including women with young children, who are often detained together with convicted detainees. It is also concerned about reports that fundamental legal safeguards for persons deprived of their liberty are often not respected, including the rights to be informed of the charges against them, to have prompt access to a lawyer and to a doctor of their own choice, and to notify a person of their choice of their detention (arts. 9–10 and 14).
27. The State party should take effective legal and other measures to ensure that pretrial detention is only used as an exceptional measure and for a limited period of time, particularly in relation to mothers with young children, and increase the use of alternative measures to pretrial detention. The State party should ensure that all legal safeguards are guaranteed in practice to all persons deprived of their liberty from the very outset of their detention, including by formally adopting the draft legal aid policy so as to ensure that legal assistance is available to all individuals charged with a crime.
Arbitrary arrest and detention
28.While the Committee takes note of the explanation provided by the delegation, it remains concerned that persons suffering from drug addiction could be deprived of their liberty and subjected to compulsory drug rehabilitation, in accordance with the Law on Drug Control. It also notes with concern that persons experiencing homelessness, beggars, children in street situations, and persons with psychosocial disabilities are often arbitrarily detained and compelled to stay in the Phnom Penh social affairs and transit centre (Prey Speu), which operates without a clear and transparent regulatory framework (arts. 9–10).
29. The State party should:
(a) Pursue a comprehensive review of relevant laws, policies and practices vis-à-vis drug-dependent persons, particularly those deprived of their liberty in compulsory drug rehabilitation centres, with a view to bringing them into full compliance with the Covenant;
(b) Put an end to the involuntary detention of persons experiencing homelessness, beggars and persons with psychosocial disabilities, who are often held in transit or rehabilitation centres, and take the measures necessary to provide alternatives to the institutionalization of children in street situations, including their placement in family-based settings;
(c) Adopt a clear and transparent legal framework to ensure that adequate social support is provided to people in need, including rules on the functioning of the Prey Speu centre.
Trafficking in persons
30.Despite the significant efforts made by the State party to eliminate trafficking in persons and the exploitation of children, the Committee remains concerned about reports of a lack of adequate protection for victims of trafficking, in particular women and children. The Committee is also concerned about allegations of cases of debt bondage involving children, in particular in the brick industry (arts. 8 and 26).
31. The State party should ensure the effective enforcement of the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation. It should ensure that cases of trafficking in persons are thoroughly investigated, that those responsible are prosecuted and, if found guilty, are sentenced appropriately, and that victims are provided with full reparation and appropriate protection and assistance. The State should also eliminate all forms of forced labour and exploitation of children, particularly in the brick industry, including by strengthening the capacity of labour inspectors to carry out their duties effectively in the sectors where such practices are prevalent.
Independence of the judiciary
32.Despite the measures taken by the State party to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, the Committee remains concerned about the persistent lack of an independent and impartial judiciary and about the high number of allegations of corruption within the judiciary. The Committee also notes with concern that some judges are openly members of the ruling party, often holding leadership positions, which seriously undermines their independence (art. 14).
33. The State party should take all the necessary measures to safeguard, in law and in practice, the full independence, impartiality and safety of judges and prosecutors. The State party should take specific measures to prevent judges from being influenced in their decision-making by any form of political pressure, including by ensuring that procedures for the selection, appointment, suspension, removal and disciplining of judges and prosecutors are in compliance with the Covenant and relevant international standards.
Freedom of expression
34.The Committee remains deeply concerned about the persistent violation of the freedom of expression within the State party. It is alarmed by reports of the closure of multiple national and international media outlets; the blockage of websites critical of the Government; the use of criminal and civil legal actions against journalists and human rights defenders; and the widespread harassment and intimidation of online activists, including during the elections in 2018, and for criticizing the State party’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee notes with concern that some criminal offences contained in the Criminal Code and in the Law on Telecommunications, including defamation, incitement, insult and lese-majesty, are often used to restrict freedom of expression disproportionately and excessively. Moreover, the Committee is concerned that the Sub-Decree on the National Internet Gateway and new draft legislation, including on cybercrime and access to information, and the draft amendments to the Press Law raise serious concerns regarding further limitations on freedom of expression and have been formulated without conducting consultations with civil society and relevant stakeholders (art. 19).
35. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation on freedom of expression and urges the State party to take immediate measures to ensure that everyone can freely exercise the right to freedom of expression, in accordance with articles 19 of the Covenant and the Committee ’ s general comment No. 34 (2011) on the freedoms of opinion and expression. In doing so, the State party should:
(a) Refrain from prosecuting and imprisoning journalists, human rights defenders and other civil society actors as a means of deterring or discouraging them from freely expressing their opinions;
(b) Prevent acts of harassment and intimidation against, the placement of arbitrary restrictions on, or arrests of journalists, activists and human rights defenders who merely criticize public officials or government policies;
(c) Decriminalize defamation and bring any other relevant provisions of the Criminal Code and the Law on Telecommunication into line with article 19 of the Covenant;
(d) Review and revise its current and pending legislation, including the Sub-Decree on the National Internet Gateway, draft amendments to the Press Law and the draft laws on cybercrimes and on access to information, to avoid the use of vague terminology and overly broad restrictions;
(e) Ensure that in the formulation and enforcement of its legislation, including ministerial sub-decrees, any restrictions on the exercise of freedom of expression and association comply with the strict requirements of articles 19 (3) and 22 of the Covenant.
Right of peaceful assembly and freedom of association
36.The Committee is gravely concerned about reports of the arbitrary denial of permission to hold peaceful assemblies and arrests of organizers based on vague legal provisions contained in the Law on Peaceful Assembly. It is deeply concerned at information received regarding the use of excessive and disproportionate force to disperse peaceful demonstrations, leading to widespread arrests and detention of protesters, including human rights defenders, environmental activists, opposition leaders and trade unionists (such as those associated with the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mother Nature Cambodia and the Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld). The Committee also notes with concern that the amendments to the Trade Unions Law of January 2020 and the draft law on public order, which aims at regulating access to and behaviour in public spaces, could further restrict the right of peaceful assembly, since both contain undefined terms, which facilitate misinterpretation and misuse by the authorities. Moreover, the Committee notes with concern that the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations continues to restrict the right to freedom of association, imposing onerous reporting requirements on organizations, leading to the denial of registration and facilitating the surveillance of human rights defenders (arts. 21–22).
37. In accordance with article 21 of the Covenant and in light of the Committee ’ s general comment No 37 (2020) on the right of peaceful assembly, the State party should:
(a) Expedite its efforts to revise its current and pending legislation, including the amendments to the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations and the draft law on public order, as well as its practices, to ensure that individuals fully enjoy, both in law and in practice, their right of peaceful assembly, and to ensure there is a meaningful, open and transparent consultation with civil society organizations and any other relevant stakeholders in all revision exercises;
(b) Ensure that any restrictions on the right of peaceful assembly, including through the application of administrative and criminal sanctions against individuals exercising that right, comply with the strict requirements of article 21 of the Covenant;
(c) Effectively investigate all cases of the arbitrary arrest and detention of peaceful protesters, as well as acts of violence against them, and bring those responsible to justice;
(d) Prevent all forms of harassment and intimidation of members of civil society organizations, trade unions and political parties and ensure that they can freely exercise their right to work and related activities.
Participation in public affairs
38.The Committee is concerned about the dissolution, in November 2017, of the main opposition political party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, and of three other opposition parties in 2021, and the transfer of all the seats of the Cambodia National Rescue Party in the National Assembly to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which undermines the right to vote and political representation. It is concerned about the independence and impartiality of the National Electoral Committee, and the difficulties faced by new parties in undertaking an equal, free and transparent electoral campaign. The Committee expresses its serious concern at the unlawful restrictions placed on members of the opposition with regard to their participation in public affairs and elections, through threats, harassment, arbitrary arrests, mass trials, the revocation of passports and acts of violence, such as the killing of the Cambodian National Rescue Party member, Sin Khon, in November 2021 (arts. 2, 6 and 25).
39. The State party should bring its electoral regulations and practices into full compliance with the Covenant, including article 25, by, among other things:
(a) Ending all arbitrary arrests of and acts of harassment, intimidation and violence against members and supporters of opposition parties;
(b) Conducting thorough and independent investigations into all allegations of harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrest and acts of violence against members and supporters of opposition parties, in particular in the killing of Sin Khon, and bring the perpetrators to justice;
(c) Ending all mass trials against members of the opposition and ensuring that all proceedings brought against them, as well as against human rights defenders, are in conformity with all of the procedural guarantees set out in the Covenant;
(d) Ensuring the full and meaningful enjoyment of electoral rights by everyone, including opposition political candidates, and that all political parties can conduct an equal, free and transparent electoral campaign;
(e) Guaranteeing the freedom to engage in pluralistic political debate, including by facilitating peaceful demonstrations and meetings and by refraining from using criminal laws to suppress that freedom or to exclude opposition candidates from electoral processes;
(f) Strengthening the judicial and electoral mechanisms to ensure a fair electoral process, particularly in time for the 2022 commune elections and the 2023 national elections.
Juvenile justice
40.While the Committee welcomes the adoption of the Law on Juvenile Justice in 2016, it regrets that its implementation remains limited and, in practice, children in conflict with the law continue to be placed in pretrial detention. The Committee is also concerned about the transfer of children from remote provinces, who depend on the material and moral support of their families, to the new Youth Rehabilitation Centre in Kandal Province for detention (arts. 23–24).
41. The State party should intensify its efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the Law on Juvenile Justice and that children in conflict with the law are treated in a manner commensurate with their age. The State party should also ensure that pretrial detention of minors is strictly used in exceptional cases and only as a last resort. The State party should consider undertaking a thorough review of cases of children in conflict with the law who will be transferred to the new Youth Rehabilitation Centre in order to evaluate an alternative to detention.
Indigenous peoples
42.The Committee welcomes the efforts of the State party to enhance protection mechanisms for the rights of indigenous persons. However, the Committee remains concerned about shortcomings in the implementation of the legal framework and safeguards in place for the protection of the right of indigenous peoples to use and occupy their land and territories. It is concerned that indigenous peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent in decision-making processes affecting them, and particularly in granting approval of development projects on their lands, is not systematically respected. The Committee also expresses its concern about the effective protection of indigenous communities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (arts. 2 and 26–27).
43. The State party should:
(a) Develop and adopt a legal framework to recognize and protect the rights of indigenous peoples, including a simplified procedure for obtaining communal land titles;
(b) Ensure full and meaningful consultation with indigenous peoples in matters concerning their rights, in particular their right to free, prior and informed consent, including when granting permission for development projects that may affect their land rights;
(c) Continue its efforts to prevent conflicts over land use, including by providing guarantees in relation to land traditionally owned or occupied by indigenous peoples;
(d) Ensure that indigenous peoples are not relocated without following all legal and procedural safeguards, including the provision of comparable alternatives and adequate compensation;
(e) Ensure that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic indigenous peoples have access to information and health-care services, including testing, treatment and vaccines.
D.Dissemination and follow-up
44. The State party should widely disseminate the Covenant, its third periodic report and the present concluding observations with a view to raising awareness of the rights enshrined in the Covenant among the judicial, legislative and administrative authorities, civil society and non-governmental organizations operating in the country, and the general public. The State party should ensure that the periodic report and the present concluding observations are translated into the official languages of the State party.
45. In accordance with rule 75 (1) of the Committee ’ s rules of procedure, the State party is requested to provide, by 25 March 2025, information on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee in paragraphs 9 (corruption), 35 (freedom of expression) and 39 (political participation) above.
46. In line with the Committee ’ s predictable review cycle, the State party will receive in 2028 the Committee ’ s list of issues prior to the submission of the report and will be expected to submit within one year its replies to the list of issues, which will constitute its fourth periodic report. The Committee also requests the State party, in preparing the report, to broadly consult civil society and non-governmental organizations operating in the country. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 68/268, the word limit for the report is 21,200 words. The next constructive dialogue with the State party will take place in 2030 in Geneva.