The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) has played a vital role in bringing the voices of the Khmer-Krom to the international stage—especially during the review processes of Vietnam’s human rights obligations under the United Nations treaty bodies. Vietnam has ratified seven out of nine core UN human rights treaties, and during each of these reviews, KKF has worked to ensure that the concerns of the voiceless Khmer-Krom are acknowledged and addressed.

KKF’s first participation in a treaty review process began in 2007 in New York, during Vietnam’s review by the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Since then, all treaty reviews have taken place in Geneva, and KKF has been consistently present. These include reviews by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

For each of these reviews, KKF has submitted comprehensive shadow reports based on firsthand accounts, community monitoring, and local experiences of the Khmer-Krom people—particularly women, children, and religious leaders who face systemic discrimination and repression. KKF also participates in private briefings with treaty body members, delivering oral statements and answering questions to ensure the Khmer-Krom perspective is included in the dialogues.

These efforts have been essential in countering Vietnam’s official narratives and highlighting the urgent need for accountability and reform. KKF’s persistent advocacy has not only raised international awareness but also significantly pressured the Vietnamese government to address long-standing human rights violations against the Khmer-Krom. Through this work, KKF remains critical in defending human dignity and indigenous rights globally, offering hope for potential change.

The reports that KKF submitted for Vietnam’s treaty review can be found at this link