Petition to the Signatories of the Paris Peace Agreements to Urgently Ensure the Recognition and Respect of Cambodian Sovereignty and Uphold Lasting Peace

Friday 29 August 2025

Petition to the Signatories of the Paris Peace Agreements to Urgently Ensure the Recognition and Respect of Cambodian Sovereignty and Uphold Lasting Peace

To the Signatory Countries of the Paris Peace Agreements (October 23, 1991):

We, the undersigned, respectfully call upon all parties to the Agreements on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict (commonly known as the Paris Peace Agreements) to take immediate and coordinated action to uphold their commitments to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and to contribute to the stability of the broader region.

According to Article 2 of the Agreement on the Sovereignty, Independence, Territorial Integrity and Inviolability, Neutrality and National Unity of Cambodia, as a part of the Paris Peace Agreements, say that “The other parties to this agreement hereby solemnly undertake to recognize and respect in every way the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia.”

The military actions along the Cambodia and Thai border, mainly between 23 to 29 July 2025, causing our great concern, as the civil society organizations, regarding the inviolability on land and sovereignty of Cambodia based on the international agreements between Cambodia and Thailand and the Paris Peace Agreements Signatories including the 1962 Ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Preah Vihear Temple and its clarification in 2013 on territory surrounding the temple.

These actions also contravene:

  • Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state;
  • Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Articles 6 and 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); and
  • The intent and obligations under Article 5 of the Paris Peace Agreements, which call on signatories to consult and take peaceful measures in response to the mentioned issue.

According to data from the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense and UNICEF:

  • Over 172,000 civilians have been displaced;
  • Approximately 600 schools have closed, affecting more than 156,000 students and teachers;
  • Cultural and religious heritage sites, including the Preah Vihear Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), have suffered significant damage;
  • Reports indicate the use of banned munitions and potentially toxic substances, allegations that warrant immediate and impartial international investigation; and
  • Women, children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups on both sides along the border have been disproportionately affected. These events have impacted public health; education; livelihoods and a clean, safe, healthy, and sustainable environment.
  • Almost one million Cambodian migrant workers have immediately lost their jobs and incomes, while reports of discrimination and rapid violence have been documented on social media, particularly in the communities where Cambodian migrant workers reside.

In light of these serious consequences, we respectfully urge the signatory states of the Paris Peace Agreements to:

  • Convene an urgent consultation as required under Article 5 of the aforementioned Agreement on the Sovereignty, Independence, Territorial Integrity and Inviolability, Neutrality and National Unity of Cambodia of the Paris Peace Agreements to address the current violations and prevent further escalation;
  • Establish an impartial international fact-finding mission to assess the damage and investigate reported violations of international law and human rights;
  • Ensure full compliance with Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity through peaceful and lawful diplomatic channels, and also through acceptable mediation ways to rebuild long last relationship between Cambodia and Thailand with support from ASEAN and United Nations; and
  • Call for increasing emergency coordinated effort for equal and transparent humanitarian assistance and long-term peacebuilding efforts, including aid for displaced persons and cross-border reconciliation initiatives.

The Cambodian people, like all peoples, have the right to live in dignity, peace, and security under the protection of international laws. The Paris Peace Agreements remain a historic foundation for regional peace and democratic progress. We urge the signatory states to reaffirm their collective commitment to the essential agreements, decisively take measures to defend its principles to secure a peaceful and just future for Cambodia and the region.

Respectfully,

This petition is endorsed by

  1. Action For Development (AFD)
  2. Anakot Kumar (AK)
  3. AMARA Organization (AMARA)
  4. Akphivath Neary Khmer Organization (ANKO)
  5. Advocacy and Policy Institution (API)
  6. Aphivat Strey Organization (AS)
  7. Building Community Voices (BCV)
  8. Buddhism For Development (BFD)
  9. Cambodian Agenda Development of Disability and the Poor (CADDP)
  10. Community Council for Development Organization (CCDO)
  11. Coalition of Cambodia Farmer Community Association (CCFC)
  12. Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
  13. Cambodian Centre for Mediation (CCM)
  14. Cambodian Civil Society Partnership (CCSP)
  15. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
  16. Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC)
  17. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
  18. Cambodian Institute for Democracy (CID)
  19. Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability (CISA)
  20. Cambodia Independent Trade Union Federation (CITUFED)
  21. Cambodian Informal Economic Workers Association (CIWA)
  22. Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC)
  23. Community Legal Education Center (CLEC)
  24. Communication and Media Promotion Organization (CMPO)
  25. Coalition Of Apparel & Industrial Union (COALITION-AI)
  26. Cambodia Organization for Children and Development (COCD)
  27. Cooperation for Alleviation of Poverty (COFAP)
  28. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
  29. Connecting Communities, Environment & Responsible Tourism (ConCERT)
  30. Cambodian Organization for Women Support (COWS)
  31. Coalition for Partnership in Democratic Development (CPDD)
  32. Community Translation Organization (CTO)
  33. Community Training Organization Development (CTOD)
  34. Cambodia Tourism Service Workers Federation (CTSWF)
  35. Cambodia Tourism Workers’ Union Federation (CTWUF)
  36. Cambodian Women’s Development Association (CWDA)
  37. Children and Women Development Center in Cambodia (CWDCC)
  38. Cambodian Youth Network Association (CYN)
  39. Environmental Protection and Development Organization (EPDO)
  40. Education for Rural Community Development Organization (ERCO)
  41. Friendship Association for Cambodian Child Hope (FACCH)
  42. Facilitation Association for Economy of Cooperatives (FAEC Cambodia)
  43. Farmers Association for Peace and Development (FAPD)
  44. Forests and Livelihood Organization (FLO)
  45. First Step Cambodia (FSC)
  46. Federation of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC)
  47. Federation Union of Free and Independent (FUFI)
  48. Happiness and Education for Life Organization (HELO)
  49. Help the Old Age and Most Vulnerable (HOM)
  50. Human Rights Organisation for Transparency and Peace (HROTP)
  51. Independent Democratic Association of the Informal Economy (IDEA)
  52. Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE)
  53. Life and Hope Association (LHA)
  54. Khmer Association for Development Of Country-Side (KAFDOC)
  55. Samakum Krom Akphiwat Phum (KAWP)
  56. Kratie Disabled People’s Organization (KDPO)
  57. Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights and Development Associations (KKKHRDA)
  58. Khmer for Khmer Organization (KKO)
  59. Khemara Organization (KO)
  60. KAMPUCHEA Women’s Welfare Action (KWWA)
  61. Khmer Youth Association (KYA)
  62. Mlup Promviheathor Center Organization (MPC)
  63. My Village (MVi)
  64. Nak Akphiwath Sahakum (NAS)
  65. Neakpoan Organization for Development (NOD)
  66. Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP)
  67. Our Objective Organization (OOO)
  68. Pagna Cambodian Education Fund Organisation (PCEF)
  69. People Center for Development and Peace (PDP-Center)
  70. Partnership for Environment and Development (PED)
  71. Ponleur Kumar (PK)
  72. Ponlok Khmer (PKH)
  73. Phnom Neang Kangrei Association (PNKA)
  74. Prom Vihear Thor Organization (PVT)
  75. Rural Aid Organization (RAO)
  76. Rural Development Association (RDA)
  77. Royal Friend Community for Development (RFCD)
  78. Rural Teaching Organisation Cambodia (RTOC)
  79. Rural Women’s Association for Agroecology (RWAA)
  80. Smiling Hearts Association for Children (SHAC )
  81. Schools for Happy Future Organization (SHFO)
  82. SILAKA Cambodia (SILAKA)
  83. Star Kampuchea (SK)
  84. Salariin Kampuchea Learning Center (SKLC)
  85. Steps for Sustainable Cambodia (SSC)
  86. Samaky Organization (SO)
  87. Urban Poor Women Development (UPWD)
  88. Volunteer Building Cambodia Organization (VBC)
  89. Vulnerable Children Assistance Organization (VCAO)
  90. Vulnerability & Illiteracy Reduction (VIR)
  91. Village Support Group (VSG)
  92. Women’s Community Voices (WCV-FM 89-50)
  93. Wathnakpheap Organization (WP)
  94. Women’s Resource Center Organisation (WRCO)
  95. Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC)
  96. Community Prey Peay Kampot
  97. Kbal Kla Forestry Community (Kampong Thom)
  98. La Peang Community (Kampong Chhnang)
  99. Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN)
  1. Strey Klahan Community
  2. SALA SUSU Community
  3. Smor San Community
  4. Empowering Youth for Equitable Society (EYES)