Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee Conference

on
POVERTY & HUMAN RIGHTS

9 December 2006
Chenla Theatre, Phnom Penh

Effects of Corruption on Poverty & Human Rights

By Theary C. SENG, CSD Executive Director

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This day, December 9, the world pauses to reflect on the problems and effects of corruption on society and to raise awareness of corruption and the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in combating and preventing it. Three years ago, the UN General Assembly designated this day as the International Anti-Corruption Day.

Tomorrow, December 10, the world celebrates the 58th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which the UN General Assembly adopted in 1948.

It is of great honor and significance, then, that we, the Center for Social Development (“CSD”), join our voice and spirit with fellow members of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (“CHRAC”) and other like-minded individuals and institutions of the larger Cambodian and international community to proclaim our renewed solidarity and commitment to uphold universal principles which we hold to be self-evident for every human being on this day – International Anti-Corruption Day and the eve of International Human Rights Day.

The topic of this CHRAC conference is “Poverty & Human Rights”. We, at CSD today, have been asked to address the effects of corruption on poverty and human rights, a timely fusion of topics in light of these two important days of remembrance.

It is our deep belief that certain rights are innate to and an entitlement of every human being, irrespective of gender, race, class, culture, nationality, ethnicity, religion, inter alia. We resoundingly proclaim that it is the right of every human being to enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom from fear, and freedom from want[1]. We believe these four freedoms are the highest aspirations of the common Cambodians.

FREEDOM FROM WANT. It is our deep belief that poverty is not fate or destiny or karma. That is to say, we believe a Cambodian is poor not because it is her karma to be poor; she is poor because of poor governance and policies.

It is our deep belief that corruption is a principal cause of poverty. We believe that corruption is the misuse of entrusted power for private gain[2], and consequently, we believe that corruption is a scourge that further impoverishes the poor.

How so? We are convinced that illicit acquisition of personal wealth is particularly damaging to democratic institutions, the Cambodian economy and the rule of law. Furthermore, we are concerned that cases of corruption that involved vast quantities of assets, when constituting a substantial proportion of the resources of State, threaten stability and sustainable development of Cambodia.

According to the Economic Institute of Cambodia, the loss in government revenue due to “unofficial fees” paid by the private sector amounts to US$330 million (which represented about 50 percent of the total Government budget revenue in 2005 or about 6 percent of GDP) and potential could reach US$400 million[3].

We find it unacceptable that one in three (approximately 4.7 million) Cambodians live on less than 2000 riels (50 cents) a day[4].

One of the universal rights of a human being is to own property and not to be arbitrarily deprived of that property.[5] We find it unacceptable that many Cambodians are being wrongfully evicted without just and fair compensation which further plunges them into poverty.

Another universal principle is the right to education[6]. However, this right is woefully disregarded here in Cambodia . Today, education in Cambodia is in crisis. One in four Cambodians is illiterate. One in five Cambodian children does not finish primary school, and only one in four of those who do finish continue to secondary school. The average primary school has 55 students for every teacher. Only 2 percent of the country’s GNP is spent on education. Salaries for teachers are woefully inadequate at approximately US$30 per month. A CSD study found that public education stands out as the institution responsible for more than half of the total yearly amount spent on bribes by all households[7].

We find these statistics unacceptable for we believe education is the key to eradicating poverty.

We believe that every Cambodian is born free and equal in dignity and rights. Poverty caused by corruption cuts away at a Cambodian’s freedoms, dignity and rights.

Hence, we reiterate our commitment with you today to fight for fundamental human rights for every Cambodian, to fight against corruption in any form, and to free every Cambodian from the bondage of poverty in order that every Cambodian may have and enjoy life, freedom and personal security.

Toward these ends, the Center for Social Development has been working and will continue to work in the fields of human rights, good governance, rule of law and democracy. More specifically, two days ago, the Center for Social Development organized an event in Kampong Cham to celebrate International Anti-Corruption Day and we are elated to join you today and other organizations tomorrow at the Olympic Stadium to celebrate International Human Rights Day.

About the Center for Social Development

The Center for Social Development (“CSD”) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. CSD was established in Phnom Penh since 1995 (recognized by the Council of Ministers in 1995 and the Ministry of Interior in 2001) and seeks to promote democratic values and improve the quality of life of the Cambodian people.

The mission of CSD is to encourage broad participation (at both national and local levels) in public affairs, develop a respect for human rights and the rule of law, enhance transparency and accountability in the public sphere, and raise awareness of issues of national concern through all forms of media. CSD has five main operational units to carry out this mission: (i) Legal, (ii) Governance, (iii) Public Forum, (iv) Elections & Parliamentary, and (v) Research & Publications.

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[1] Preamble, Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
[2] Transparency International’s definition.
[3] “Assessment of Corruption in Cambodia ’s Private Sector”, July 2006, Economic Institute of Cambodia.
[4] United Nations in Cambodia . “Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger”. UN website, 4 December 2006.
[5] Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 17.
[6] Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 26.
[7] Living Under the Rule of Corruption, the Center for Social Development, March 2005, p. 25.