On 29 August 2025, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. KE Sovann, Under-Secretary of State, and H.E. TSUTSUMI Naohiro, Ambassador for Human Rights and International Peace Stability of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, co-chaired the 13th Cambodia–Japan Human Rights Dialogue.

The dialogue was attended by representatives from the Council of Ministers (Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia), the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Information, the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, and the National Election Committee.

The dialogue serves as a forum for exchanging views, sharing experiences, and presenting progress, efforts, and achievements from September 2023 to present, relating to (1) Democracy in Cambodia; (2) Freedom of expression, assembly, and association; (3) Freedom of the press and the right to access information; (4) Free and fair elections; (5) Judicial reform and legal aid programs; (6) Protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (women, children, persons with disabilities, and LGBTIQ persons); and (7) International cooperation.

His Excellency the Under-Secretary of State and representatives of the respective ministries and institutions delivered interventions on the above-mentioned topics, highlighting the progress achieved by the Royal Government of Cambodia in the protection and promotion of human rights in Cambodia, commitment to implementing the international human rights conventions to which Cambodia is a State Party, and engaged in discussions on the draft resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council on advisory services and technical assistance for Cambodia.

H.E. TSUTSUMI Naohiro expressed his appreciation to His Excellency the Under-Secretary of State for the warm welcome and extended his gratitude to all representatives of the ministries and institutions for their thoughtful and substantive interventions regarding the human rights situation in Cambodia.

H.E. TSUTSUMI Naohiro emphasized that Japan is a close friend of Cambodia and will continue to support Cambodia, further strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, both bilaterally and in international fora.

At the conclusion of the dialogue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hosted a working lunch in honour of H.E. TSUTSUMI Naohiro and the representatives of the Embassy of Japan to Cambodia. The occasion provided an opportunity for the two co-chairs to exchange views on ways to further strengthen and expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

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