Geneva, 13 October 2026 — During the General Debate of the 77th Session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (UNHCR), His Excellency Ambassador Ke Sovann, Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, delivered Cambodia’s statement

 Geneva, 13 October 2026 — During the General Debate of the 77th Session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (UNHCR), His Excellency Ambassador Ke Sovann, Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, delivered Cambodia’s statement.

In his statement, Ambassador Ke Sovann reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to international refugee protection and its longstanding cooperation with UNHCR, as a State Party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.

The Ambassador highlighted that, although the ceasefire continues to hold, more than 20,000 Cambodians remain unable to return to their homes due to the continued occupation of areas of Cambodian territory by Thai armed forces and the obstruction of access to their homes and communities.

He stressed that such occupation and the continued destruction of Cambodian property by Thai armed forces constitute serious violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

Cambodia emphasized the urgent need for the full and good-faith implementation, in their entirety, of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of 26 October 2025 and the Joint Statement of 27 December 2025, with strong emphasis on facilitating the safe and dignified return of displaced Cambodians to their homes.

The Ambassador also encouraged UNHCR, in accordance with relevant United Nations General Assembly resolutions and in close coordination with the Royal Government of Cambodia and other relevant United Nations agencies, to support efforts to address the protection and humanitarian needs of internally displaced Cambodians and contribute to durable solutions, particularly their safe and dignified return to their homes.

He further underscored that preventing forced displacement requires full respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, and a firm commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes. He emphasized that commitments to peace and dialogue must be matched by concrete actions on the ground.

In conclusion, Ambassador Ke Sovann called for adequate, predictable and sustainable funding to enable UNHCR to fulfil its mandate effectively and reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to continued constructive cooperation with UNHCR.