The Campaign Program makes recommendations for key drafted laws and democratic institutions, and lobbies the government for change in both policies and practices to provide better health and education services.
♦ Adoption of laws
ADHOC monitors the implementation of key laws such as the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure, the Law on the Amendment of the Supreme Council of Magistracy, the Law on the Status of Judges and Prosecutors, the Anti-Corruption Law, and a policy framework on access to information. ADHOC provides significant inputs to the Criminal Code.
The Law on Access to Information
Information Act was prepared by ADHOC and made public in 2007, and offered to provide the Government with technical assistance to produce the draft policy framework. ADHOC still takes active participation in Freedom of Information working groups in regular monthly meetings to advocate for the draft law and to urge the government to adopt it as soon as possible.
♦ Strengthening democratic institutions
ADHOC monitors the implementation of democratic institutions such as National Election Committee (NEC), National Human Rights Body (NHRB) and Supreme Council of Magistracy (SCM).
We:
– organize consultations to establish a set of recommendations to ensure the establishment of the Human Rights Body, according to Paris agreements
– lead working groups on advocacy to strengthen civil society advocacy networks and to support them to work together for positive changes
– follow up the development of the Supreme Council of Magistracy
The National Human Rights Body (NHRB)
The creation of a National Human Rights Body was supported by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2006. ADHOC was involved in the drafting of the law. ADHOC maintains advocacy campaigns with other NGOs concerned by the independence and transparency of this institution. However, there is no progress, due to a lack of coordination between the Government team and the Civil Society to draft the Term of Reference of the Body.
♦ Economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR)
In 2008, ADHOC has taken the lead of a cooperation of 55 national NGOs working in the field of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:
-27 meetings were conducted by ADHOC for the preparation of the parallel report to the UN Committee on economic, social and cultural rights;
-30 meetings related to the ESCR were organized by partners;
-3 national workshops on ESCR were organized and facilitated by ADHOC and partners;
ADHOC is committed to investigate and intervene in cases of abuses of ESCR, and to help victims in their quest for justice and compensation. In 2008:
-97 cases were investigated;
-In 60% of all investigated cases, victims received compensation and perpetrators were scared away.
♦ Provincial Level Network
ADHOC cooperates with civil society to conduct trainings on advocacy skills, alternative conflict resolution, human rights and democracy at a provincial network level. In 2008:
-62 provincial NGO networks meetings were conducted in 10 provinces
-35 persons attended each meeting and shared information related to human rights situation in their areas;
-32 meetings were organized with the local authorities for lobbying and intervention in human rights violations;
