Rhona Smith

{{Infobox officeholder

| nationality = British

| occupation = International human rights lawyer

| office = United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia

| term = 2015–2021

| alma_mater = University of Strathclyde {{Small|(PhD)}}

}}

Rhona K. M. Smith is a British legal academic. She is professor of international human rights and former head of Newcastle Law School at Newcastle University{{cite web |title=Professor Rhona Smith |url=https://www.ncl.ac.uk/nuls/staff/profile/rhonasmith.html |website=Newcastle Law School |publisher=Newcastle University |accessdate=1 April 2019}}{{cite web |title=Rhona Smith |date=19 October 2016 |url=https://theconversation.com/profiles/rhona-smith-310291 |publisher=The Conversation |accessdate=1 April 2019}} and was the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.{{cite web |title=Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/sp/countriesmandates/kh/pages/srcambodia.aspx |publisher=United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights |accessdate=1 April 2019}}{{cite web |title=Human rights: New UN Special Rapporteur on Cambodia launches her first official country visit |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15951&LangID=E |publisher=United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights |accessdate=1 April 2019 |date=13 May 2015}}{{cite web |title=CCJHR Annual Distinguished Lecture 2018: Professor Rhona Smith |url=http://blogs.ucc.ie/wordpress/ccjhr/2018/12/04/ccjhr-annual-distinguished-lecture-2018-professor-rhona-smith/ |publisher=Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights University College Cork |accessdate=1 April 2019|date=2018-12-04 }}

Career

Smith joined Newcastle University in August 2016 as Professor of International Human Rights. She was Head of School from 2016 through to 2020.{{cite web |title=Staff Profile |url=https://www.ncl.ac.uk/law/people/profile/rhonasmith.html |website=Newcastle University |access-date=8 September 2024}}

Smith served two three-year terms as UN special rapporteur for Cambodia, completing her service in March 2021, at which time she was succeeded in that office by Thai scholar Vitit Muntarbhorn.{{cite web|url=https://scandasia.com/thai-scholar-starts-as-un-special-rapporteur-on-human-rights-in-cambodia/ |title=Thai scholar starts as UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia|first1=Zazithorn|last1=Ruengchinda|publisher=ScandAsia|date=31 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50832173/hopes-pinned-on-new-un-special-rapporteur-for-human-rights/ |title= Hopes pinned on new UN Special Rapporteur for human rights|first1=Ben|last1=Sokhean|publisher=Khmer Times|date=31 March 2021}} She 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 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/government-hits-back-rhona-smiths-un-comments|title=Government hits back at Rhona Smith's UN comments, National, Phnom Penh Post|last=Chheng|first=Niem|website=www.phnompenhpost.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2021/03/08/un-experts-cambodian-opposition-leaders039-jail-terms-039appalling039 |title=UN experts: Cambodian opposition leaders' jail terms 'appalling'|publisher=Toronto Star|date=8 March 2021}}

Selected publications

{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Rhona K. M.|title=International Human Rights Law|edition=8th| isbn=9780198805212|publisher=Oxford UP|year=2018}}
{{cite book| last=Smith | first =Rhona K. M. | title=Textbook on International Human Rights | edition =7th | date=2016 | isbn= 9780198746218|publisher=Oxford UP}}
{{cite book| last=Smith|first=Rhona | title=Core Documents on European and International Human Rights 2018-19 | isbn=9781352003260 | publisher=Red Globe Press|series=Macmillan Core Statutes|date=2018-07-31 |edition=4th }}

References

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Academics of Newcastle University

Category:British women academics

Category:British legal scholars

Category:Alumni of the University of Strathclyde