Update information October 2006 – May 2007
A-Background
The ITP project commenced its implementation in Cambodia in May 2005. Currently the project is extended for another 2 year, 2007-2008, funded by the Government of Denmark, acting through the Danish Agency for International Development (“DANIDA”) in Cambodia to support indigenous peoples. Within the context of implementation the ITP is still working through the same methodology/approach on the priorities and needs of indigenous peoples identified during the launch workshop 5-6 May 2005. We now have slightly revised objectives compared to 2005-2006, based on existing experiences.
B- Objectives
Indigenous communities are recognized as legal entities with rights to land and resources and have the capacity to decide their own priorities for development
Immediate objectives
1. Government institutions have the capacity to adequately implement legal and administrative provisions on governance, land and resources, for the benefit of indigenous peoples
2. Indigenous communities have the capacity to organize themselves as legal entities with rights to land and resources and to define community development plans
3. Indigenous organizations have the capacity to represent and defend their concerns and rights and conduct training to indigenous communities
C- Progress October 2006 – May 2007
1. National Level
Collaboration with Department of Local Administration (DoLA)/Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Ministry of Rural Development (MRD)- Department of Ethnic Minority Development (DEMD) to provide support for the process of by-law development to contribute to the implementation of the 2001 Land Law of Cambodia on communal land titling. In other words, the development of by-laws to enable indigenous communities to obtain legal entity status.
- Provided training for selected provincial government officials on indigenous and tribal peoples rights 26-27 October 2006 at Kampong Cham province.
- By-laws of 3 communities have been passed by the general meeting of the whole community members by the end of 2006
- The 3 communities have been registered by Ministry of Interior and obtained its status as legal entity and ready to request for collective land title. 2 indigenous communities, La In and La Eun Kren- [Tampuon Ethnic Group-] in Ratanakiri, 1 indigenous community [Pnong ethnic group] Andongkraleung in Mondulkiri. The 3 communities have been handed over officially 22-24-25 May 2007
- 7 and 8 February 2007, the International Labour Organization, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and NGO Forum on Cambodia hosted a seminar on Indigenous Peoples and Access to Land in Cambodia. The seminar brought together representatives of the Royal Government of Cambodia, indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, development partners and United Nations agencies. Prior to the seminar, preparatory workshops were held with indigenous peoples in Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie and Preah Vihear. (Report is available on request and ILO website)
- Conducted 3 studies: (1) How to go ahead with Sub-decree on Shifting cultivation required by Law on Forestry 2002 art. 37; (2) Scaling up the legal entity of indigenous community commencing from the 3 pilot IP communities already registered; (3) Integration of needs and priorities of indigenous peoples in the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2006-2010. Yet, the reports are not available, hopefully soon in the coming months.
- Provide comments on the draft Policy on Registration and Rights to Use Land of Indigenous Community made available for discussion by Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) 20 December 2006 & 29 January 2007 in Phnom Penh. The comment on the draft policy from ILO was submitted at the National Workshop to discuss on the draft policy 29 January 2007 at the Phnom Penh Hotel and send via email to concerned organization.
2. Provincial and local levels
Indigenous Community Organizing
The community organizing activity in the 3 target provinces are ongoing, working towards requesting status as legal entities. There is a minor change in terms of partnership in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri.
1- Ratanakiri:
Three new indigenous communities were included in the community organizing approach implemented by CFI, the provincial partner of ILO-ITP up to April 2007. To date CFI projects in Ratanakiri are localized and a new name is given, Indigenous Community Support Organization (ICSO).
ILO-ITP has a new partner in Ratanakiri for 2007 and 2008 to facilitate the community organizing activities of 2 to 4 new communities of indigenous peoples, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) will be a new partner of ILO-ITP there.
2- Preah Vihear: ILO-ITP works through the Buddhism for a Progressive Society (BPS) in two communes, Peuk commune, and Pra Mei. The 5-member traditional committee has been established in Peuk commune, and in Pra Mei commune, the committee has been recognized by the commune council order (deika). The committee has conducted extension to the villagers. Meeting with the 2 community representative in Preah Vihear they expressed their demands for collective land title rather than private one, most of them have put thumbprint to be the community members for collective land title.
The work in Preah Vihear province is going on.
3. Internship
As part of its capacity-building component, the project has recently recruited a new indigenous intern in Phnom Penh, for a period of 6 months, June-November 2007. ILO-ITP partner in Preah Vihear and Ratanakiri will also provide opportunity for 6 months for indigenous peoples/student to be a trainee with them.
D- Publications
- Project Launch report of 05-06 May 2005
- Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and Poverty Reduction Strategies in Cambodia
(PRSP)
- A study on Achieving the Millennium Development Goals In Two Indigenous Communities in Cambodia to be published later.
- ILO Convention No. 169 in Khmer.
- Report of the Seminar on Indigenous Peoples and Access to Land in Cambodia 07-08 February 2007
- PRO 169 newsletter
E- Planned activities to September 2007
A number of new activities are foreseen, such as, training material development, a training for local government officials on IP issue, training for Indigenous Rights Active Members (IRAM), workshop to disseminate the process of by-law development to donors, government and UN agencies, NGOs working on IP affairs, Indigenous Rights Active Members (IRAM), Indigenous Youth Association (IYA) and indigenous peoples.
- Training for provincial government on by-law and indigenous rights (DEMD-MRD)
- Finalize the three studies already conducted in April and May 2007
- Develop training tools for selected target groups
- Partnership to implement activities in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri for community organizing and building capacity of indigenous peoples
- Technical input for implementing regulation toward registration of indigenous community as legal entity (cooperation with DoLA)
- Technical support to partner organizations the provinces on legal entity approach and community dialogues.
For further information on any of the details provided in this news bulletin, or copies of the publications highlighted above, please contact:
Mr. Sek Sophorn, National Project Coordinator
Tel.: 023 220 817
E-mail: sophorns@ilo.org
Some publications are also available at www.ilo.org/indigenous
We will also be happy to receive feedback on this bulletin, so it can be improved in the future for the benefit of our partners.
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