♦ Outputs
PEP implements a large rank of activities to strengthen 91 communities in 15 Cambodian provinces:
– Sensitization Sessions are designed to raise awareness of community members on human rights, democracy, and the purpose of community organizing
– Training Courses aim to provide knowledge on human rights, women rights, related laws (land law), democracy, rule of law, decentralization policies, and public services to community representatives
– Regular Meetings are organized to review day-to-day work of community representatives, share new information and anticipate next activities
– Exposure Visits are designed to share experiences from community to community with a focus on an outstanding community
– Library Installment within the communities
– Provincial Seminars allow participants from the communities, in the presence of local authorities, to raise their concerns relating to human rights violations
– Civic Education Workshops improve understanding of human rights, democratic principles, rule of law, and roles and responsibilities of the youth in democratic society, among college and university students.
♦ Outcomes
Reaction against Human Rights Violation
The People Empowerment Program (PEP) mobilizes community people to enable them to collectively react against human rights violations. In 2008, 153 non-violent demonstrations were conducted on 156 cases of serious human rights violations committed by powerful and affluent individuals. In response, 89 cases out of the total cases were successfully solved.
Case study
On October 30, 2008, a demonstration gathered 520 community members from the 5 communes of Trapaing Krahom, Lbang Mouy, Trapaing Chreh, O’chum, and Laban Siek, in Ratanakiri province. In the absence of measures taken by local authorities, the demonstration was organized to halt an illegal deforestation. Later on, the case has been taken into account by the local authorities.
Pre-Consultation with Local Authorities on Local Development
In 2008, 311 discussions and consultations were conducted with local authorities on 340 topics related to local development plans. 205 of these topics were taken into account and successfully integrated into communal development plans.
Conflict/ Dispute Settlement by Community
In 2008, community representatives held 382 meetings of mediation to deal with 344 cases of small-scale conflicts occurred in their communities. In response, 275 cases were successfully solved.
