CCHR | Cambodian Center for Human Rights

CCHR takes two approaches to promoting and protecting human rights and democracy in Cambodia: Empowerment and Policy. We empower ordinary people and members of civil society to drive change; and through detailed research and analysis we develop innovative policy, and advocate for its implementation.

Empower

We empower civil society to claim its rights, participate in democracy and drive change. We do not attempt to lead or represent people.

Communities

Through our Community Trainings and Hearings Project, we provide learner-centered Community Training to marginalized communities on human rights, and the advocacy skills for claiming these rights and organize Community Hearings, a case-driven conflict resolution mechanism that seeks to bring those affected by rights violations together with government representatives, parliamentarians and other stakeholders to resolve localized conflicts. We host Public Forums for communities to discuss their human rights concerns with a range of stakeholders; to foster a more open society where debate is accepted and encouraged. We broadcast Hearings and Forums on the radio to share communities’ experiences and ideas with as many Cambodians as possible, and post videos of events on YouTube.

Civil Society Organizations

We facilitate a Human Rights Network to enable the development of natural alliances and the transfer of skills, knowledge and resources between those working to promote and protect human rights, including non-governmental, sector-based and community-based organizations. The Cambodian Human Rights Portal Sithi.org supports the Network, mapping participants and highlighting their work. We provide training to Network participants on human rights, advocacy, monitoring and documentation, and organizational development. We collaborate on joint advocacy initiatives and provide micro-grants for Network participants to implement their own initiatives. Network participants include trade unions, youth organizations, indigenous groups and business associations. We have developed a Human Rights Library to provide a safe space and resources for anyone to study and discuss human rights.

Human Rights Defenders

Through our Human Rights Defenders Project we empower, protect and promote those individuals who speak out for the rights of others. We provide training to them on human rights, documentation of human rights violations, and advocacy skills. We also coordinate the provision of legal and humanitarian services when they are under threat, and advocate for their rights.

Businesses

Through our Business and Human Rights Project we work to increase businesses’ understanding of their impact on and responsibilities vis-à-vis human rights. We encourage them to respect human rights in their operations and polices, and to advocate for rule of law to guarantee a fairer, stable and less risky business environment.

Policy

In addition to empowerment work, CCHR undertakes research and analysis – based partly on the information received through our empowerment work – to develop new, concrete and constructive ideas and recommendations for the institutional, legislative and policy changes required to improve the human rights situation. We use traditional and new communications technologies to transfer these ideas to Cambodian and international audiences, engage in dialogue with all stakeholders including the government, test domestic and international human rights mechanisms, and lobby at home and abroad. Our policy work is implemented under three main areas that reflect our focus on civil and political rights.

Fundamental Freedoms

We offer policy recommendations designed to promote and protect freedom of opinion and expression, assembly, association, movement, conscience religion and belief. We coordinate the Campaign for Freedom of Expression. We engage in dialogue with the government on the ASEAN Intergovernmental Human Rights Commission and the National Human Rights Institution.

Rule of Law

Only accountability to the law, fairness and transparency in the application of the law by an independent judiciary, and the separation of powers will guarantee the long-term protection of Cambodians’ rights. Through our Cambodian Trial Monitoring Project we monitor trials and assess their fairness against international standards. We use our findings as a basis for dialogue with judicial and other stakeholders to promote fair trials.

Participatory Democracy

We advocate for accountable, transparent and inclusive democratic processes to encourage the voices of the most vulnerable in society to be heard in decision-making. We have conducted research and advocacy on the situation of the Khmer Krom and ethnic Vietnamese; and we implement the Cambodian Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Project which seeks to empower Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people to advocate for their rights.