National
Cambodia Calls for Equality to Be 'Lived Reality' at UN Commemoration of Durban Declaration
PHNOM PENH — Sept. 29, 2026: Cambodia has called for formal equality to be translated into lived reality, stressing that inclusive institutions, equal opportunities and sustained efforts are needed to remove barriers to inclusion.
H.E. In Dara, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, delivered Cambodia's national statement on Sept. 28, 2026, on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
He reaffirmed that every human being is born free and equal in dignity and rights, and highlighted Cambodia's continued commitment to promoting equality and non-discrimination, strengthening its national human rights framework and fostering social cohesion through intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
Addressing emerging challenges, H.E. In Dara noted that discrimination increasingly manifests through online hate speech, harmful stereotypes and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, underscoring the need to apply established human rights principles to evolving realities.
He concluded by urging renewed determination to deliver on the promise of the Durban Declaration, emphasising that the credibility of the international human rights system will ultimately be measured not by the principles it proclaims, but by the protection it affords those who continue to face discrimination and exclusion.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Reported by The Khmer Today
