Cambodia
In Cambodia, Diakonia supports a variety of local non-governmental organizations working on human rights, democracy, gender equality, good governance, and social and economic justice.
Cambodia faces a number of development challenges, including unequal access to resources, weak natural resource and land management, environmental sustainability issues, and poor governance.
But the country also continues to enjoy robust growth, albeit at a slightly lower pace. The garment sector, together with construction and services, are the main drivers of the economy. Poverty continues to fall in Cambodia, although the pace has declined significantly.
Cambodia’s development has been accompanied by land grabbing, targeting marginalised people in rural and remote areas, particularly poor farmers and communities, as well as those in urban areas. Land has been converted to accommodate large plantations of sugar and rubber, along with other industrial crops mainly for export. Approximately one-third of the country’s arable land has been appropriated by agribusinesses and mining companies. Hundreds of thousands of people have been caught in land conflicts, with many forcibly evicted from their land in recent years.
How we work
Diakonia works with local partner civil society organisations to support and enable them to train people to become aware of and defend their rights. This includes providing paralegal support and advocating for justice for victims of violations such as land grabbing and other forms of rights abuse.
A vital component of democratic governance, beyond ensuring free and fair elections, is holding elected officials accountable and safeguarding an independent judiciary. Diakonia supports partners in equipping rightsholders with the knowledge and strategies needed to demand respect, protect their rights, and prevent abuse. We also support independent media to ensure people have access to reliable information, enabling them to make informed decisions and exercise their freedom of expression.
Diakonia’s work makes a difference
Through the work of Diakonia and our partner organizations, hundreds of thousands of people have become aware of their human rights. By encouraging people to organise themselves, a successful contribution to the general development of the community has been made.
As a result of the support from partner organizations, people affected by land grabbing have successfully defended their rights. Women are often the ones taking the lead in these struggles and they have increasingly achieved leadership positions in their communities.
For more information
Kall Kann, Country Director Cambodia
E-mail: kall.kann@diakonia.se
Phone: +855 92 582 226
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On this World Disability Day, we honour stories of resilience and strength that challenge stereotypes and inspire change. Today, we spotlight Ms. Phally Norm—a woman who proves that disability does not determine destiny, but how we choose to respond to our challenges does.
Gender Budgeting Reshaped Local Spending
Chhoun Srey Neang is reshaping the way local governance looks at budgeting, advocating for budgets that are fair and meet everyone’s needs.
After participating in a project supported by Diakonia, Srey Neang has been involved in decision-making processes that aim to address gender inequalities and the differing needs of women and men. This has led to an increased social work budget that takes into account the various needs of marginalized groups in the community.
Proud of Myself: Chhlong Sineang’s Advocacy for Safe Migration
In Kok Trach village, Cambodia, Chhlong Sineang, serving as a Safe Migration Ambassador, plays a crucial role in equipping local residents with essential knowledge for safer job migration to Thailand. This empowering initiative is part of Diakonia’s collaborative effort with CENTRAL to address migration challenges and ensure the well-being of Cambodian workers.
From Fishing Nets to Fighting Rights in Samrong Tbong
Against the peaceful backdrop of Samrong Tbong, an urban village in Cambodia, a struggle for land rights unfolds as the community faces eviction.
“I used to live peacefully”, says Srey Sot, a community leader of an urban poor community in Phnom Penh city. In 2019 her life drastically changed.
Bunong People Defending Their Roots
Confronting land encroachments and threats to their livelihood and cultural heritage, the Bunong indigenous communities of Mondulkiri province find support through the partnership of Diakonia and the Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization (CIPO) to defend their rights and preserve their ancestral legacy.
Woman Leads to Secure Land Rights
The impact of land concessions is significant in Cambodian society, where 80% of the population lives in rural areas and relies heavily on agriculture for their livelihood.
Chim Sophat is a widowed single mother in Pramar village, one of many areas that has a complex history of land rights and ownership. Even while facing huge challenges with her living conditions, Sophat keeps on fighting for land rights as a community leader, to lead and facilitate the work against powerful actors.
Engaging men in the fight for gender justice
Transforming masculinities
Dominant forms of masculinity are often associated with gender-based violence, oppression of women and girls and dangerous sexual and reproductive practices.
Diakonia is promoting transformative masculinities as a tool to make patriarchal structures visible and engage men in the fight for gender justice. To act for gender equality and justice we see the need for more men and boys to form alliances with women’s rights organisations and join grassroots movements that reject violence and discrimination of women, girls and LGBTI persons.
Download our fact sheet about Transformative Masculinity to find out more about how we work, and read some of the stories from the men who joined the project.
Diakonia's Mainstreaming Toolboxes in Khmer
Diakonia has three mainstreamed areas that permeate our work: A gender perspective, an environmental perspective and a conflict perspective. To work with the mainstreaming of the perspectives, we have created toolboxes that contain practical tools, guides and manuals for each area. Here you can download the toolboxes in Khmer. (Find the toolboxes in other languages here.)
