Rhona K. M. Smith is a British legal academic. She is professor of international human rights and former head of

Newcastle Law School Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is a red brick uni ...

at Newcastle University and is the United Nations special rapporteur for Cambodia. Smith was criticised by the Cambodian government for behaving like a "teacher in a classroom". Smith had questioned the 2018 elections where

Cambodian People’s Party The Cambodian People's Party (CPP), UNGEGN: , ALA-LC: ; is a Cambodian political party which has ruled Cambodia since 1979. Founded in 1951, it was originally known as the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP)., UNGEGN: , ALA-LC: ; ...

had taken all 125 seats. She noted that 118 politicians had been arrested and the courts had dissolved an opposition party ignoring the constitution which expected a multi-party state. In March 2021, Smith joined three other UN special rapporteurs in criticising lengthy jail terms given to Cambodian opposition leaders living in exile for seeking to return to Cambodia and foment popular opposition to the continued rule of Prime Minister

Hun Sen Hun Sen (; km, ហ៊ុន សែន, ; born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former military commander who has served as the prime minister of Cambodia since 1985. He is the longest-serving head of government of Cambodia, and ...

. Smith served two three-year terms as special rapporteur for Cambodia, completing her service in March 2021, at which time she was succeeded in that office by Thai scholar Vitit Muntarbhorn.

Selected publications

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References

Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Academics of Newcastle University British women academics British legal scholars {{UK-law-bio-stub