Vision: Sustainable Development for Cambodia

By: EL Sotheary, Head of Program, CCC

CCC Bi Monthly Meeting01 April 2014

CSO GREEN PAPER

DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES FOR 2014 AND BEYOND

2

Presentation Outlines

1. Green Paper for Civil Society

2. Methodology

3. Key issues/challenges and proposed recommendations

4. Action Plans

5. Small Group Discussion

Vision: Sustainable Development for Cambodia

GREEN PAPER FOR CIVIL

SOCIETY IN CAMBODIA

4

Why Green Paper?

1. To respond to national and global trends in a systematic and structural manner

2. To improve participation and harmonization

3. To ensure collaboration rather than competition

4. To ensure that CSOs have a common strategic vision with clear roles and key focuses.

Vision: Sustainable Development for Cambodia

METHODOLOGY OF THE

GREEN PAPER

6

Methodology of the Green Paper

1. Consulted with at least 11 research/studies

2. Conducted individual meetings and consultation workshops with relevant stakeholders since June 2013

3. Discussed with NSDP and beyond 2015 development agenda

4. Captured proposed recommendations

5. Consolidated proposed intervention strategies

1. The Electoral Reform Alliance (ERA) Report on the 2013 Elections2. Report on the Enabling Environment for CSOs in Cambodia, CCC3. Universal Periodic Review, Compiled by the Cambodian Human

Rights Action Committee (CHRAC)4. Press Statement by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the

Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia, Professor Surya P. Subedi

5. Report, Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on “CSO Perspectives on Cambodia Development Framework Beyond 2015”, CCC

6. Cambodia’s Development Dynamics: Past Performances and Emerging Priorities, CDRI

7. Joint Statement of Civil Society Organizations: Stop the Violence: A Call for Release, Investigation and Reparation,

8. CSO position paper on NSDP 2014 20189. Draft NSDP 2014 - 2018 and draft DCPS 2014 – 201810.Review of Cambodia Millennium Development Goals (CMDGs)11. Post-2015 Consultations, United Nations in Cambodia, 2013

Vision: Sustainable Development for Cambodia

KEY ISSUES/CHALLENGES

AND PROPOSED

RECOMMENDATIONS

9

Theme 1: Socio-Economic Development

Significant poverty among the poor still existsVulnerable people still unable to gain opportunities

arisingConsequences of the economic growth have negatively

affected the poorThe growth enlarges the disparity between the rich and

the poor (social gap)Unemployment, health care and quality of

education remain an issueLow access to quality public services.

10

Proposed Recommendations

Promote SME at rural and regional levelDeliver training program to compete in ASEAN marketsDevelop Employment Law and Employment PolicyReform education system to match job market and

conduct project for employment in all sectors Develop and enforcement of Minimum Wage Policy in

systematic and non-systematic economic sectorsEnsure that all development actors are more

accountable for their aid.

11

Theme 2: Governance, Anti-Corruption and Inclusive Partnership

Cooperation and partnership among development actors is still limited

Lack of information exchange and joint effortLack of transparency and accountability in the mgt. and

distribution of national revenueCorruption issues are reported at all levelsLess acknowledgement on the CSOs significant

contribution to fight against corruption, to increase the quality of public service and to strengthen good governance.

12

Proposed Recommendations

Enhance enabling environment for relevant stakeholders with transparency

Having full consultation among development actorsProvide fuller delegation of responsibilities and

resources to district and commune administrationEnsure that citizens have access to informationStrengthen monitoring and evaluation system and

mechanismPay more attention on public service quality.

13

Theme 3: Legal and Judicial Reform

Law of effective law enforcement and absence of independent institutions to protect people’s right

Suppression and interference by the Executive on the Judiciary

Lack of legal aid provision and access to legal defense especially for the poor

Corruption within the judiciary and limited resource allocation for court officials

Openness and transparency on legislation drafting process: no standardized practice.

14

Proposed Recommendations

The gov’t to speed up the process of creating an independent National Human Rights Commission

The gov’t to uphold the separation of powers as clearly stated in the Constitution

The courts shall act independently without accepting any influence from the gov’t and other external sources

The Anti-Corruption Unit should act independently and professionally to actively investigate and punish all the corruption cases.

15

Theme 4: Access to Information and Media

Cambodia has not historically been an open societyGaining access to basic information is still difficultInstitutional capacity is weak and mechanisms for

information disclosure are lackingLow education, Cambodian’s understanding of their

rights generally is lowLaw regulating the media are not clearly written and

sometimes inconsistently appliedMany media outlets in Cambodia are state-

owned or aligned to the ruling party.

16

Proposed Recommendations

Speed up the Access to Information legislationDevelop a culture of opennessEnforce existing laws and institutional capacity to

disclose informationEnsure the freedom of expression and of the pressOpen the TV and radio market to independent and

community broadcasterMake the draft of the Cyber Law available to the public

and allow CSOs to contribute to its elaboration.

17

Theme 5: Land, Housing and Eviction

Unlawful land grabbing occurs nationwide, both small and large scale

Ever-increasing percentage of the Cambodian population is landless

Indigenous communities face particularly tremendous obstacles in being recognized as legal entities and registering their land for collective ownership

Lack of transparency on how MAFF grants ELCsThe evicted people are left homeless, receive unfair

compensation or placed in the inadequate places.

18

Proposed Recommendations

Ensure appropriate financial assistance and adequate housing given to those who were displaced by the development

Ensure that the eviction occur in compliance with the land law with greater attention on the community

Carry out a mapping of the housing needs of the country and disseminate information

The gov’t should provide sufficient time to CSOs to analyze any draft and join the consultation

Speed up the Law on Access to Information.

19

Theme 6: Environment and NRM

Land and mining concession lead to forest degradation and deforestation

Lack of resources and capacity to adapt and mitigate climate change and disaster risk

Most ELCs and hydrology dam construction were allowed without any professional environmental impact assessment

Most ELCs affected the local and indigenous peoples’ livelihood throughout forest land clearance activity.

20

Proposed Recommendations

M&E system of ELCs database should be regularly updated and made accessible to the publics

Develop national social and environmental safeguards for REDD+ and climate change

The gov’t should ensure that the private companies respect the welfare of local communities

The gov’t should seriously address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation

The gov’t & relevant partners to ensure an efficient, effective strategy for climate change and disaster.

21

Theme 7: Enabling Environment and Demo. Space

Cambodian CSOs are heavily dependent/competing for international grants and donations

Relationships between the government and CSOs are still limited

No clear roles between LNGOs and INGOsCooperation among CSOs is increasing but

the depth of cooperation is generally lowCapacity of umbrella groups to receive and address

complaints from membersGov’t roles increases through the LANGO and DCPS.

22

Proposed Recommendations

Engagement of CSOs in the LANGO and DCPSRegular reflection on how best CSOs can support other

development actorsCSOs to work with UN institutions and other

international stakeholders to document and publicize any human right abuse

CSOs to invest further in pursuing local philanthropy, grants from government and social enterprise

CSOs to commit to “downward accountability”.

23

Theme 8: Electoral Reform

Need to solve some common issues: election administration, voter registration, media coverage, the use of state resources and seat allocation

No disclosure of relevant election data by the gov’t bodies

Need to form an independent, external commission to investigate election irregularities

Government, civil society and other stakeholders to speed up the electoral reform.

24

Proposed Recommendations

The gov’t to make ongoing consultation with the civil societies, election monitors and political parties

There must be clear understanding of the term “Electoral Reform”

There needs a full review of all election informationCivil society will need to play a leading role in electoral

reformIt is encouraged to have involvement/influence from

international communities.

25

Theme 9: Human Rights, Human Development and Social Inclusion

Recent use of excessive force from the government to brutally crackdown the civilian demonstrations

Lack of law enforcement and anti-corruption as well as low commitment to social justice and human rights

Limited capacity of local people and local authorities about basic human rights and human development

Education not yet responded to the current social situation and in line with the development trends

It needs to have an affordable, high quality and accessible to all people.

26

Proposed Recommendations

There needs to strengthen the capacity of local people and local authorities about basic human rights

The Gov’t to ensure the well-being of all people including vulnerable people to have better public services with equality and equity.

All development actors to include and involve vulnerable or marginalized people in all development processes

The health and education institutional quality must be improved and transparency is essential.

Vision: Sustainable Development for Cambodia

PROPOSED ACTION PLANS

28

Proposed Action Plans

Evidence based advocacyInclusive partnership and mass supportEnabling environment (LANGO, Access to

Information….)Empowering grass root/ Demand

Vs. Supply sides.

4 Main Working Approaches

29

Proposed Action Plans

Consolidate all inputs into a single document/ paper and facilitate a harmonization workshop with relevant stakeholders

Coordinate to have a consultation with board of directors of key CSO coalitions, LNGO, INGO, informal groups, and other group of CSOs

Develop Communication and Advocacy Strategies for the CSOs Green Paper.

30

Proposed Action Plans

Share/consult with the government and development partners on the CSO Green Paper

Use the paper as roadmap and directive vision for CSOs to strategize and prepare their activities

Use the paper for the regional and international debates on beyond 2015 development agenda

Launch the paper with key stakeholders.

1. What prioritized issues and recommendations need to be added or removed?

2. What are the roles of CCC’s member NGOs to address these key issues?3. Shall we have working groups/sub-committees to respond to these priorities? How?

Group Discussion

Group Discussion 20 mn

Presentation by each group 5 mn/each

32

THANK YOU! &