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[email protected] November 23, 2020 Ms. Rhona Smith UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais Wilson 52 rue des Pâquis CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland Ms. Irene Khan UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais Wilson 52 rue des Pâquis CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland RE: Request for URGENT ACTION – Forthcoming Trial of Cambodian-American Human Rights Lawyer and Advocate Theary Seng – November 26, 2020 Dear Ms. Smith and Ms. Khan, We are writing with this request for urgent action on behalf of our client, Theary Seng, a prominent Cambodian-American human rights lawyer and democracy advocate who has been summoned to appear in court for trial on November 26, 2020, to answer criminal charges of “incitement to create social disorder” and “conspiracy to commit treason.” Approximately 60 other people have also been summoned to appear on that day – most are members of the banned opposition and non-violent Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). The charges against Ms. Seng are politically motivated and directly connected to her political and social advocacy. Over the past 20 years, she has established herself as an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen, both domestically and internationally. Ms. Seng has been a leader in Cambodia’s civil society since 2006 and is widely known for her involvement in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.