Cambodia Thanks UN Rights Expert for Highlighting Border Displacement and Rejects Thai Territorial Claim

Cambodia Thanks UN Rights Expert for Highlighting Border Displacement and Rejects Thai Territorial Claim

Cambodia has thanked United Nations Special Rapporteur Thomas H. Andrews for drawing attention to the humanitarian and human-rights consequences of the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict, while rejecting claims from Thai officials concerning the status of Cambodian civilians displaced by the conflict.

Cambodia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ke Sovann, raised the issue during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council on October 2, 2026.

The discussion comes as the two countries continue to deal with the consequences of the border conflict and the displacement of civilians from affected areas.

Cambodia Highlights the Situation of Displaced Civilians

According to Cambodia’s account, more than 20,000 Cambodian civilians remain unable to return to their homes.

Ambassador Ke Sovann said Andrews had highlighted practical obstacles affecting their return as well as consequences for livelihoods, education, healthcare and community life. Cambodia welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s call for Thailand and Cambodia to cooperate in facilitating the return of displaced civilians.

Cambodia has repeatedly emphasized that displaced civilians should be able to return home safely and with dignity.

The issue was also discussed during a September 30 meeting between Ke Sovann and Andrews in Geneva. Cambodia's ambassador asked the Special Rapporteur to maintain attention on the human-rights situation of displaced Cambodians and their safe return.

Cambodia Refers to the December 2025 Ceasefire Agreement

Ke Sovann called for continued efforts to fully implement the joint statement reached by Cambodia and Thailand on December 27, 2025.

Under that agreement, both sides committed to an immediate ceasefire and agreed that civilians living in affected border areas should be allowed to return to their homes and normal livelihoods safely and without obstruction.

The agreement also called for the Joint Boundary Commission to resume survey and demarcation work in affected areas, with humanitarian demining and security measures included in the process.

The ceasefire agreement did not itself settle the underlying boundary issue. Instead, it stated that the arrangements were without prejudice to the border demarcation and international boundary between the two countries.

Cambodia Rejects Thailand's Account of the Displacement

During his statement, Ke Sovann also responded to claims attributed to Thai officials concerning Cambodian residents and the history of displacement.

According to the Cambodian ambassador, the civilians who remain displaced today were forced to leave homes in Cambodia because of the 2025 conflict.

He rejected the suggestion that the current displaced population should be understood as people who had simply been living on Thai territory for decades.

These are competing national positions in an unresolved border dispute. Thailand has publicly presented its own account of the border situation and has emphasized adherence to the December 2025 ceasefire, while also raising concerns about transnational scam networks and security issues.

Cambodia Points to Historical Border Agreements

Ke Sovann also referred to historical agreements concerning the Cambodia–Thailand boundary.

The Cambodian position is that the international boundary between the two countries is based on agreements including the 1904 Convention and the 1907 Treaty.

Cambodia has said that questions concerning the boundary should be addressed through established bilateral mechanisms and international law rather than through changes resulting from the use of force.

The December 2025 joint statement similarly reaffirmed both countries' commitment to peaceful settlement, respect for international boundaries and international law, while directing the Joint Boundary Commission to resume survey and demarcation work.

Thailand Maintains a Different Position

Thailand has also addressed the issue at the UN Human Rights Council.

According to Thailand's Permanent Mission in Geneva, its representative raised concerns about the Cambodia–Thailand border situation during the October 2 session and also discussed cyberscam networks in Cambodia, which Thailand says have affected its citizens and security interests.

This difference in emphasis illustrates the continuing disagreement between the two governments.

Cambodia has focused strongly on the rights and return of displaced civilians, while Thailand has emphasized implementation of the ceasefire, security concerns and its own interpretation of developments along the border.

For readers, it is important to distinguish these official positions from independently verified findings.

UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Cooperation

Andrews' involvement has placed the humanitarian consequences of the border dispute within the broader UN human-rights discussion.

Recent reporting indicates that the Special Rapporteur has called on Cambodia and Thailand to work constructively and in good faith to reduce tensions and create conditions for displaced Cambodian civilians to return safely.

The emphasis on cooperation is significant because the December 2025 agreement already established mechanisms intended to manage the border situation and support civilian returns.

The challenge now is implementation on the ground.

Human Rights Issues Extend Beyond the Border

Andrews' broader mandate covers the human-rights situation in Cambodia, meaning his work is not limited to the Cambodia–Thailand border.

During the same Human Rights Council discussions, issues involving civil liberties, civic space and online scam networks were also raised.

Cambodia said it welcomed constructive engagement with the Special Rapporteur while encouraging an assessment based on verified information and the country's national circumstances.

Cambodia also reaffirmed its willingness to continue dialogue and cooperation with the UN human-rights mechanism.

Why the Return of Civilians Remains Important

For displaced families, the border dispute is not simply a question of diplomacy or territorial interpretation.

Being unable to return home can affect employment, education, access to healthcare, property, agriculture and community relationships.

The December 2025 joint statement specifically recognized the need for affected civilians to return safely and with dignity to their homes and normal livelihoods on their respective sides of the border.

This makes civilian return an important humanitarian component of efforts to stabilize the border.

What Happens Next?

The future of the affected communities will depend on several factors, including continued implementation of the ceasefire, cooperation between Cambodian and Thai authorities, border coordination, humanitarian demining and progress through existing boundary mechanisms.

The Joint Boundary Commission is particularly important because the December agreement assigned it a role in resuming survey and demarcation work in affected areas.

At the same time, international observers and human-rights mechanisms may continue monitoring the situation and its effects on civilians.

Conclusion

Cambodia's statement at the UN Human Rights Council highlights the continuing humanitarian consequences of the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict, particularly the situation of civilians who remain displaced.

Ambassador Ke Sovann thanked Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews for drawing attention to the issue and called for continued international attention to the safe and dignified return of affected civilians.

At the same time, Cambodia rejected Thailand's characterization of the displaced population and reiterated its position regarding the international boundary.

Thailand maintains its own position on the border and related security issues.

With both countries committed on paper to the December 2025 ceasefire and peaceful mechanisms for addressing the boundary, continued dialogue and implementation will remain central to reducing tensions and helping affected communities return to normal life.

Important Context

Claims concerning responsibility for displacement, territorial control and alleged violations remain contested between Cambodia and Thailand. This article presents the positions of the parties and publicly available information and does not independently determine disputed territorial or legal claims.