Human Rights in Cambodia Human rights abuses remain prevalent in Cambodia. Killings, assaults and threats are common - a legacy of Cambodia's recent violent history. Problems with governance remain the greatest hindrance to realizing respect for human rights. The legal system in Cambodia often fails to punish crimes, and perpetuates other abuses. Perpetrators, especially if they are powerful or wealthy, are rarely arrested or convicted.
Even grave crimes such as murder are sometimes settled unlawfully, by way of cash payments from the offender to the victim's family, rather than by criminal prosecutions. Such settlements are made even with the participation of courts and other government officials, such as police officers or village chiefs.
These deeply entrenched problems are fuelled by a variety of causes, including corruption and incompetence within the government and courts, impunity for the powerful, and a lack of political will to reform. The judicial process is tilted in favour of the person with the most power and money, rather than following the rule of law.
The human rights environment in Cambodia remains precarious, with the issues of land grabbing and a clampdown on freedom of expression of particular concern.