"Cambodia: International Criminal Court Prosecutor urged to prosecute land grabbing crimes", 16 Mar 2021

In a letter sent today by FIDH, Global Witness, and Climate Counsel to ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, the three organizations expressed their support for pursuing an ICC examination into the situation in Cambodia. The letter has been endorsed by UN Expert bodies, civil society organizations and senior lawyers worldwide...

“Land grabbing and the associated mass crimes lead to illegal resource exploitation, persecution of indigenous people, and environmental destruction. The Cambodia case is the best and last chance for this ICC Prosecutor to show that she is willing to play a role in fighting the climate and environmental emergency. Slamming the brakes on illegal land grabbing will force governments and businesses to reconsider their kleptocratic policies,” commented Richard J Rogers, Founding Partner of Global Diligence and Executive Director of Climate Counsel.

In October 2014 Richard J Rogers of Global Diligence LLP, with the support of FIDH and Global Witness, filed a communication to the ICC Prosecutor alleging that the widespread and systematic land grabbing perpetrated by the Cambodian ruling elite [including representatives of the Cambodian Government, security forces and government-connected businesses] for over a decade amounted to a crime against humanity. In July 2015, a supplementary communication provided additional evidence and demonstrated how the land grabbing had a disproportionate impact on women...