On 11 March
2013, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) organized a sensitization session on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Tangen village, Takream commune, Banon district, Battambang province. The session, which was held from 9:00 to 11:00am, was facilitated by Mr. Yin Mengly, ADHOC’s Provincial Coordinator and ADR Officer in Battambang, and attended by local authorities and grassroots representatives from Tangen, Or Tangha and Or Phongmean villages. There were a total of 126 participants, including 44 women.
After welcome remarks by the commune officials, Mr. Yin Mengly outlined the objectives of the session, namely:
To present ADHOC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and the new activities it is implementing; To present the Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism; and to select the ADR Committee of Takream Commune.
Mr. Yin Mengly raised the fact that the judicial system has difficulty reaching remote areas and that parties to a dispute may not have an interest in submitting their case to the judiciary. This may cause them to lose money and time, and to increase mutual rancor. Rather, some disputes can be dealt with and settled through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. With this in mind and with support from the European Union and other donors, in 2013 ADHOC started to implement an ADR program in collaboration with local authorities (especially at the commune and Sangkat level) and partner NGOs with a view to settling low intensity civil cases. ADHOC uses an ‘ADR Tool’ with 23 principles, which were created specifically for the program.
The key point is that con
flicts can be managed and solved through peaceful, non-violent means that enhance the communities’ cohesion.
After the session, Mr. Yin Mengly organized the process of selecting volunteers to become members of the Takream commune ADR
Committee. Mr. Choung Lorn and Ms. Chan Bandoul were selected by the participants.
Mr. Ny Sokha, Deputy Head of ADHOC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, said that in Battambang and other provinces ADHOC will carry out the same activities in 2013. It will select 36 communes as targets, organize sensitization sessions, and help set up communal ADR Committees to solve minor conflicts through mediation and to enhance solidarity.
ADHOC will provide capacity building trainings and advice to the volunteer ADR Committee members at the communal level, in order to help them settle conflicts efficiently and effectively.
For more information please contact:
Mr. Ny Sokha, Deputy Head of ADHOC’s ADR Section: 012 943 860
