Cambodian Defenders Project

Cambodian Defenders Project

Press Release
(19 December 2002)

CDP LAUNCHES PILOT PROGRAM TO COUNTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The Women's Resource Center (WRC) of the Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP) is preparing to launch an innovative six-month pilot program to tackle Cambodia's high incidence of domestic violence. According to a Ministry of Planning report in June 2001, the level of domestic violence in Cambodia stands at 25% and the level of physical and sexual violence at 17.1% of the population. The new program, funded by the Civil Society Governance Fund of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), is called "Community Sentinels Against Domestic Violence." Its primary objective is to counter the prevalence of domestic violence in Cambodian society by addressing the reluctance of victims to come forward, and of local officials to act when instances of domestic violence occur in their communities.

WRC will identify, train, deploy and support 40 community-based "sentinels" in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Battambang, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom - all locations where CDP has offices. The sentinels will be already established community-minded citizens and each will be provided with the skills and knowledge to counsel women who feel or are reported to be at risk. They will then be able to act as a source of comfort and practical advice for the women, helping them to access the specialist services of human rights organizations and legal organizations, such as CDP.

The project will begin with a "Stakeholders Meeting," in each target area, where WRC will introduce the program to local government and civil society representatives and encourage cooperation amongst the participants in combating domestic violence. From information gathered at the meeting, candidates will be selected for two WRC training courses. The first, a 3-day intensive course, will train key police and local officials, and potential sentinels who will serve as contact points and facilitators for each target area. Those selected to be sentinels will then participate in a second specific course designed to promote the effectiveness of the sentinels in their new role.

The two training courses will cover topics ranging from causes and effects of domestic violence, gender equality before the law, safety issues and plans, including emergency intervention and legal action, counseling and supporting victims, to the roles of police, local officials and other actors in combating domestic violence.

The 40 community sentinels will then be deployed in the three provinces and Phnom Penh to monitor their respective communities for incidents of domestic violence in collaboration with police and local authorities. The sentinels will conduct surveys, develop intervention strategies, assist and counsel victims, and arrange for legal representation if necessary. Sentinels will be monitored and supported by WRC and CDP’s provincial lawyers, and will submit monthly activity reports to WRC.

It is expected that the sentinels’ surveys and reports will reveal patterns of past and present knowledge, attitudes and practice by documenting the previous history of domestic violence in women/families seeking assistance, highlighting chronic problems (lack of knowledge, assistance and support, indifference and inaction by police/officials) and to what degree the sentinels are able to facilitate solutions.

CDP envisions that the potential success of this project will serve as a basis for expanding the initiative on a larger scale in the future. At the very least, the program will increase the access of disadvantaged women to legal advice and representation, engage the community in a difficult issue, and make police and local authorities more responsive and accountable for protecting abused women.

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The Cambodian Defenders Project was established in 1994 as a project of the International Human Rights Law Group in Washington DC and became a local Cambodian NGO on 1 February 2001. CDP is the first and largest legal aid provider in Cambodia. Its mission is to provide free legal defense to the poor and the vulnerable and to defend human rights by strengthening the rule of law, developing the legal system and building liberal democracy. CDP presently has 28 lawyers recognized by the Bar Association of Cambodia.

During the seven years since the first successes of its public defenders, CDP has expanded its legal and human rights activities. Besides representing the poor and vulnerable in both civil and criminal proceedings, CDP has established several projects to protect and promote human rights, raise legal awareness of the people and government officials, advocate for sound legislation and provide protection for particularly disadvantaged groups. CDP’s new Strategic Human Right Lawyering program has recently been launched to conduct a focused defense of human rights, in partnership with monitoring organizations, by selecting and bringing cases in court that highlight serious human rights violations, seek compensation for victims and accountability of perpetrators, and push the police/judiciary to respond according to law. Other projects include the Women's Resource Center (WRC), Center Against Trafficking in persons (CAT), Legal Awareness Program (LAP), Publications and Legal Advocacy unit (PLA), and Legal Awareness-building and Training Workshops for Commune Council Members.

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For further details please contact Mr. Sok Sam Oeun:

Tel: 012 901 199 (mobile)

(023) 720 032 / (023) 362 524

Fax: (023) 720 031

Email: cdp@cdpcambodia.org / cdplas@worldmail.com.kh / 012901199@mobitel.com.kh