STRATEGIC PLAN

FOR THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY 2016 31 DECEMBER 2020

(5 YEARS) SUMMARY
1 VERSION

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The Cambodian Center for Human Rights
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) is a leading, non-aligned, independent, non-
governmental organization (NGO) that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for
human rights in particular civil and political rights in the Kingdom of Cambodia (Cambodia).

About the Strategic Plan and the Summary Version

This Summary Version sets out the most important elements of CCHRs Strategic Plan for the period
1 January 2016 31 December 2020 (Five Years) (the Strategic Plan). The purpose of the Strategic
Plan is to set the course that CCHR will follow over the next five years (2016-20) to realize our vision,
accomplish our mission and achieve our objectives. The process involved in preparing the Strategic
Plan is outlined in further detail in the Methodology at Section 2 of the Strategic Plan. Some external
and internal developments are inherently unpredictable in a still-unstable Cambodia; accordingly,
the Strategic Plan is intended to be a flexible guide rather than a prescriptive checklist. However,
insofar as it is possible, it is intended that the Strategic Plan will provide strong strategic guidance for
CCHR over the next five years, while promoting the principles of transparency and accountability. A
mid-term review will be conducted between September and November 2018 after the national
elections in July 2018 but before the end of the year in order to provide a timely opportunity to
consider the extent to which the Strategic Plan still reflects CCHRs strategic needs and intentions,
and to assess the changing political and human rights landscapes in Cambodia as part of that process.
Following that mid-term review, there is every possibility that the Strategic Plan will then be
amended, so as to reflect any re-assessments made at that stage.

Queries and Feedback

Should you have any questions or require any further information about this Summary Version or the
Strategic Plan, or if you should like to provide any feedback, please e-mail CCHR at
info@cchrcambodia.org.

November 2015
CCHR
No.798, Street 99, Boeung Trabek
Khan Chamkar Morn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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 Contents

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights............................................................................................... ii

About the Strategic Plan and the Summary Version ............................................................................... ii
Queries and Feedback ............................................................................................................................. ii
Contents ........................................................................................................................................... iii
Definitions and Acronyms .......................................................................................................................iv
1 CCHR ............................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Governance summary ................................................................................................................ 1
1.3 Vision.......................................................................................................................................... 2
1.4 Logo ............................................................................................................................................ 2
1.5 Mission ....................................................................................................................................... 2
1.6 Goals .......................................................................................................................................... 2
1.7 Objectives................................................................................................................................... 3
1.8 Values ......................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats for CCHR ......................................................... 4
2.1 Priority Strengths ....................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Priority Weaknesses ................................................................................................................... 5
2.3 Priority Opportunities ................................................................................................................ 5
2.4 Priority Threats .......................................................................................................................... 5
3 Core Focus Areas............................................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Protecting Fundamental Freedoms ........................................................................................... 6
3.2 Judicial and Legislative Reform .................................................................................................. 7
3.3 Equality and Discrimination ....................................................................................................... 8
3.4 BHR ........................................................................................................................................... 10
3.5 Political Participation, Rights and Reform ............................................................................... 11
3.6 Miscellaneous Research, Advocacy and Policy ........................................................................ 11
4 Strategies for 2016-20..................................................................................................................... 12
5 Conclusion Five Strategic Priorities .............................................................................................. 13

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 Definitions and Acronyms
BHR Business and human rights

Cambodia Kingdom of Cambodia

CCHR Cambodian Center for Human Rights

CFA Core focus area

CSO Civil society organization

HRD Human rights defender

ICT Information and communications technology

IFEX International Freedom of Expression Exchange

JLR Judicial and legislative reform

Krama A traditional Cambodian scarf

LANGO Law on Associations and NGOs

LGBTIQ Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer

NGO Non-governmental organization

PESTLE Political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and environmental

PFF Protecting fundamental freedoms

RFSU Swedish Association for Sexuality Education

RGC Royal Government of Cambodia

Sithi Hub A physical space for young Cambodian students and activists to come together,
connect with each other, expand their networks, share and discuss human rights
ideas, themes, information, projects, initiatives and activities together, as well as
an online space to promote online freedom of expression and digital rights

SOGIE Sexual orientation and gender identity and expression

Strategic CCHR Strategic Plan for the period 1 January 2016 31 December 2020 (Five Years)
Plan

SWOT Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

UN United Nations

VOD Voice of Democracy

Please note that all terms or acronyms defined in the above Definitions and Acronyms table are
also defined at the instance of their first usage within the body of the Summary Version.

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 1 CCHR

1.1 Overview
CCHR is a leading, non-aligned, independent, NGO that works to promote and protect democracy
and respect for human rights primarily civil and political rights in Cambodia. CCHR empowers civil
society to claim its rights and drive change; and through detailed research and analysis it develops
innovative policy, and advocates for its implementation.1 CCHR is a member of the International
Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), the global network for freedom of expression; the World
Organization Against Torture; the World Alliance for Citizen Participation; and the Southeast Asian
Press Alliance.

CCHR has been working on the promotion and protection of human rights in Cambodia in particular
civil and political rights since November 2002. CCHR was the first NGO to initiate a program of
public forums throughout Cambodia, opening space for the public to learn and ask questions relating
to their rights and democracy more generally, and training them in human rights advocacy and
documentation. These public forums were broadcast on Voice of Democracy (VOD), a radio
program established by CCHR in 2003. In June 2007 the Cambodian Center for Independent Media
was founded to operate VOD as an independent radio station.

CCHR has since expanded and the programs at CCHR now touch upon many thematic areas: land and
natural resources rights; freedom of expression, assembly and association; the judiciary; human
rights defenders (HRDs); information and communications technology (ICT); business and human
rights (BHR); womens rights and female political participation; and protecting the rights of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people. CCHRs current projects are both
diverse and interrelated, and CCHR has now begun to streamline its projects and programs in order
to play to its strengths through concentrating on key areas, mainly fundamental freedoms, judicial
reform, BHR, and equality and discrimination.

1.2 Governance summary

CCHR was founded in 2002 by Kem Sokha, a member of the National Assembly from 1993-98, a
member of the Senate from 1999 to 2002, leader of the Human Rights Party from 2007, Vice-
President of the new opposition, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, from 2012 until the present
day, and former first Vice-President of the National Assembly from 2014-15. CCHR was officially
registered with the Ministry of Interior in October 2002 and launched on 12 November 2002 to
promote and protect democracy and human rights in Cambodia.2 It has since been governed by an
impressive Board of Directors who share a passion for human rights and Cambodia.

During Kem Sokhas leadership, CCHR became renowned for organizing regular public forums
throughout Cambodia. They became the key project of CCHRs Community Empowerment Program.
In December 2006, Kem Sokha and other civil rights leaders were arrested and imprisoned for

1
Please read more about CCHRs work at:
<http://www.cchrcambodia.org/index_old.php?url=aboutus/aboutus.php&id=2&lang=eng>.
2
Registration Letter of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Ministry of Interior, 3 October 2002,
<http://www.cchrcambodia.org/resource/eng/registration_eng.pdf>.
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allegedly defaming the Royal Government of Cambodia (the RGC). They were released after a
campaign led by CCHRs next President, Ou Virak.

From April 2007 to December 2013 Ou Virak was CCHR President. He was the founder of the Alliance
for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia, and in 2007 won the Reebok Human Rights Award for his
earlier campaign to secure both the release of the previous President of CCHR, Kem Sokha, and
others from prison and the decriminalization of defamation in Cambodia.3 In January 2014 until
December 2014, he served as Chair of the Board of Directors, during a year-long transition period
when Chak Sopheap, one of Cambodias pre-eminent female bloggers and a seasoned human rights
and democracy activist, was appointed Executive Director and took over the day-to-day leadership of
CCHR. Ou Virak then resigned from the Board of Directors in December 2014. As one of the
countrys most prominent human rights advocates, Chak Sopheap's work has been recognized by
United States President Barack Obama,4 as well as by Cambodian civil society and the Cambodian
people.

CCHR is governed according to its constitution and by-laws.5 It has a Board of Directors and a panel
of Counselors successful and influential individuals who have a passion for human rights and
support CCHRs work. CCHR is managed day-to-day by the Management Committee, under the
leadership of Executive Director Chak Sopheap.

1.3 Vision
CCHRs vision is of a non-violent Cambodia in which all people can enjoy the fundamental human
rights to which they are entitled, all are subject to the rule of law without impunity, all are treated
equally without discrimination, all are empowered to participate fully in the democratic process, and
all can share in the benefits of Cambodias ongoing economic development.

1.4 Logo
CCHRs logo shows a white bird flying out of a circle of blue sky which symbolizes Cambodias bid
for freedom.6

1.5 Mission
To promote and protect respect for democracy and human rights primarily civil and political rights,
for the benefit of all those living in Cambodia.

1.6 Goals
CCHRs goals represent outcomes that it hopes to see realized over the long-term, beyond the period
of the Strategic Plan. The objectives in Section 1.7 below then set out what CCHR wants to achieve
over the period of the Strategic Plan. CCHRs goals, which reflect CCHRs objectives, are as follows:

3
Awardee Ou Virak We are trying to change the law, Reebok Human Rights Foundation, 2007:
<http://www.reebok.com/Static/global/initiatives/rights/awards/recipients/virak.html>.
4
United States White House Website, Office of the Press Secretary, Remarks by the President at Clinton Global Initiative, 23
September 2014, <https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/09/23/remarks-president-clinton-global-initiative>.
5
Constitution and By-Laws, CCHR, 2002, <http://www.cchrcambodia.org/resource/eng/constitution_eng.pdf>.
6
Please see the front cover of the Strategic Plan.
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 1. Promotion and protection of the full spectrum of human rights in Cambodia
2. A seismic cultural shift away from ignorance of or acceptance of human rights abuses
3. Respect for the fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and digital rights
4. Justice for human rights victims meted out by a competent and independent judiciary
5. The supremacy of the rule of law and a total lack of impunity for all human rights abusers
6. A complete lack of discrimination of all kinds and total equality for all vulnerable groups
7. Flourishing freedom, democracy and political participation for all, particularly for women
8. A younger generation that is fully engaged in, aware of, and immersed in human rights
9. Full empowerment for all communities and marginalized groups to advocate for their rights
10. Sustainable economic development that respects human rights and that benefits all

1.7 Objectives
CCHRs objectives represent what it intends to achieve over the period 2016-20. The Strategic Plan
and the rest of this Summary Version sets out how CCHR will go about achieving those objectives.
The ten objectives, as agreed by CCHRs Management Committee, staff and the Board of Directors,
are as follows:

1. Provide a principled voice on human rights and highlight underlying themes and trends
2. Raise awareness of human rights abuses in Cambodia and deter human rights abusers
3. Defend all fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and digital rights
4. Advocate for justice for human rights victims via a competent and independent judiciary
5. Strengthen the rule of law and fight against all instances of impunity
6. Denounce discrimination of all kinds and staunchly support full equality in human rights
7. Promote freedom, democracy and full political participation, particularly by women
8. Engage and inspire the youth to promote, protect, respect and work in human rights
9. Empower individuals, communities and marginalized groups to advocate for their own rights
10. Mitigate the negative human rights impact that economic development tends to have

1.8 Values
CCHR expects its staff to share certain values that reflect and complement its vision, mission, goals
and objectives, including the following:

Equality we value diversity and cross-cultural understanding;

Objectivity we value impartiality and loyalty to principles;
Integrity we value honesty and commitment;
Transparency we value openness and accountability; and
Creativity we value new ideas and innovative solutions.

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 2 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats for CCHR

To assess how best CCHR can realize its vision, accomplish its mission and achieve its objectives,
CCHR staff conducted in-depth analyses of three vital areas: (1) external factors, particularly the
human rights and political situation in Cambodia, now and over the next few years; (2) human rights
NGOs in Cambodia; and (3) CCHR as an organization. In doing so, CCHR used SWOT analyses,
which examine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats now a very common strategic
planning tool in a wide range of sectors. SWOT analyses help organizations face challenges, consider
both internal and external factors, and achieve their strategic goals. Section 4.1 of the Strategic Plan
sets out a matrix analyzing opportunities and threats as regards external factors; Sections 4.2 and 4.3
of the Strategic Plan set out full SWOT analysis matrices analyzing strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats for Cambodian human rights NGOs and CCHR, respectively. For each
matrix, the factors are considered as follows:

Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important

Likely/Prevalent

Primary Organizational Priority Secondary Organizational Priority Not a Priority

Very
Likely/Prevalent
Somewhat

Secondary Organizational Priority Tertiary Organizational Priority Not a Priority

Unlikely/Not
Prevalent

Not a Priority7 Not a Priority Not a Priority

In determining factors to be included in the three SWOT analysis tables, CCHR staff used the
PESTLE analysis tool, i.e., they considered factors that could be broadly defined as: political,
economic, social, technological, legal and environmental. The objective of a PESTLE analysis is to
provide breadth, depth and rigor to a SWOT analysis, and to ensure that SWOT analyses are
conducted in as strategic a manner as possible. Sections 2.1 to 2.4 below only set out the primary
organizational priorities identified, as per the top left-hand box above, for reasons of concision and
strategic focus. It will be necessary to look at the full Strategic Plan for a comprehensive review of
the SWOT analysis tables conducted by CCHR.

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Factors in this category will nevertheless be followed by CCHR; if the likelihood factor changes, CCHR will begin to treat
that factor as a secondary and, potentially, a primary priority and allocate resources accordingly.
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2.1 Priority Strengths
Leading freedom of expression & fundamental freedoms NGO in Cambodia
Outspoken & principled voice on sensitive issues e.g. anti-Vietnamese racism
Legal analysis & expertise
Policy, advocacy & media publications
Domestic media profile & connections
International donor, partner & media outreach, support & connections
Engagement with youth & students
Higher ICT capability & penetration
Legitimacy, accountability, transparency, credibility, trust & independence
Hard-working, brave & committed staff

2.2 Priority Weaknesses

Fundamental vulnerability to governmental power & abuse
Weak ICT & social media strategy
Financial dependency on donors
Unclear roles & internal communication
Lack of strategic implementation, project needs assessment & fundraising strategy
Lack of data, figures & key indicators re impact of projects & key staff
Lack of first-hand, accurate information, especially from rural areas

2.3 Priority Opportunities

2017 commune elections & 2018 national elections to promote political rights
Enactment of repressive legislation
HRD protection & support
Higher ICT capability & penetration
Engagement with youth & students
International donor, partner & media outreach, support & connections
Legal analysis & expertise
Outspoken & principled voice on sensitive issues e.g. anti-Vietnamese racism
Sensitive cases, e.g. HRDs & digital rights

2.4 Priority Threats

Fundamental vulnerability to governmental power & abuse
Enactment of repressive legislation
HRD protection & support
Further restrictions on fundamental freedoms & civil society space
Crackdown on online freedom of expression & digital rights via the Cybercrime Law
Financial dependency on donors

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 3 Core Focus Areas

CCHR has identified its core focus areas that it intends to prioritize for the next five years (the
CFAs). While naming the CFAs is of course merely semantics and primarily an internal
organizational issue, establishing them helps to define CCHRs identity, determine its strategic focus,
and thereby facilitate the important processes of allocating staff among programs and applying for
relevant funding for the programs in question. The CFAs reflect not only CCHRs objectives, but also
the conclusions derived from SWOT analyses conducted by CCHR staff in respect of: (1) individual
projects, (2) CCHR as an organization, (3) Cambodian civil society as a whole, and (4) the human
rights situation in the country. It was also helpful to consider the work that other NGOs and civil
society organizations (CSO) are doing so as to avoid duplication and unnecessary competition
when establishing the CFAs. The CFAs will be set up as broader programs under which individual
projects or sub-programs can be grouped, a structure which allows for more flexibility and for
increased collaboration between programs and sub-programs. Furthermore, the new CFAs are
ordered in terms of strategic priority; in other words, fewer resources both financial and human
will be devoted to the CFAs that come lower down the list. The CFAs are as follows:

3.1 Protecting Fundamental Freedoms

CCHR currently runs a Protecting Fundamental Freedoms (PFF) Project, which aims to protect and
promote respect for the core fundamental freedoms, namely freedom of expression and opinion,
freedom of association, and freedom of assembly. It strives to address ongoing restrictions on and
violations of the fundamental freedoms encountered by HRDs especially, including union leaders
and labor rights activists, community activists, online activists, political activists, lawyers and
journalists, as well as by peaceful protestors. It does so by increasing awareness of instances of
fundamental freedoms being violated in order to engage decision-makers in judicial reform; by
advocating against repressive laws that are used to violate fundamental freedoms, especially the
notorious Law on Associations and NGOs (the LANGO) and the forthcoming Trade Union Law; and
by increasing public demand for the realization of fundamental freedoms in Cambodia.

CCHRs PFF work is widely considered to be its bread and butter, in other words, what CCHR has
become most well-known for over the last few years. Indeed, CCHR is the Cambodian member of
IFEX the global network in terms of defending and promoting freedom of expression and assisted
IFEX with the organization of the 2013 IFEX annual conference in Phnom Penh. Given its current
credentials, and given the need for such work in the current political and human rights climate in
Cambodia, CCHR will establish its PFF work as its primary priority and therefore devote most
resources to it. However, over the next five years, CCHRs PFF work will be re-calibrated as a broader
program, reflecting the status that CCHR has allocated it. The PFF Program will conduct its work in
the context of the over-riding shrinking of civil society space in Cambodia, with its primary focus
being to continue its current work advocating for peoples rights to the fundamental freedoms.

In addition, however, a number of smaller sub-programs or projects will be grouped underneath it.
These sub-programs or projects can each be run by one Project Officer, both as standalone projects
and as complementary support to the broader PFF Program. They include: (1) an HRD protection

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mechanism and fund, which would aim to provide HRDs with much-needed legal, financial, logistical,
medical or psychological assistance in order to help them carry out their valuable and legitimate
human rights work; (2) a similar protection mechanism that would focus exclusively on women HRDs
and the specific threats that they face, including sexual assault and abuse, and gender discrimination
(in fact, CCHR already runs a project along these lines); and (3) a project that focuses on digital rights
and freedom of expression within the online space.

Some have commented that online freedom of expression, as well as the ever-advancing ICT which
enables it, are so important that a separate ICT/digital rights/online freedom of expression program
would be merited. This option can be considered over the next three years, through to the 2018
mid-term review, at which point such a move could be initiated should circumstances demand it. For
the moment, though, this project will be cross-cutting and will work closely with the PFF team and
within the overall PFF Program structure. There will also be collaboration with the HRD team, since
many of the HRDs now being threatened and judicially harassed are online activists, targeted in
response to politically sensitive posts on Facebook and Twitter. There is huge potential for this
project: not only advocating against the forthcoming and highly worrying Cybercrime Law, which
severely threatens online space in Cambodia, but also training grassroots activists and HRDs in the
use of ICT tools and protocols. Another option, which has been long considered, is the idea of a
hub, whether a physical or purely online space (or both), whereby activists can come together,
exchange ideas and methods, communicate and organize.

3.2 Judicial and Legislative Reform

The other thematic area which has been highlighted as fundamental to CCHRs operations is its work
on Judicial and Legislative Reform (JLR), which was stated to be a real strength of the organization.
CCHR is widely respected for its expertise in legal analysis, both of judicial hearings with the
continual breaches of fair trial rights and due process and of new and pending repressive legislation
which infringe upon human rights. However, there is understandably some frustration, mainly in
connection with the lack of political will on the part of the RGC to effect genuine institutional reform.
As a consequence, the Cambodian judiciary is as compliant to the will of the executive, as
incompetent, and as corrupt as ever. Nevertheless, the prevailing feeling is that judicial reform is
such a crucial area underpinning the entire human rights situation in Cambodia and affecting fields
as diverse as infringements of fundamental freedoms, impunity for land rights abuses, and violations
of fair trial rights that it cannot be ignored. In other words, if CCHR were to down tools, then who
would take up the baton?

The JLR Project also aims to engage young Cambodian law students in judicial reform issues, and
secure their support in advocating for judicial reform through campaigns on specific issues identified
by the JLR Project. This kind of capacity-building and educational approach offers the chance to
effect judicial reform at a more sustainable, grassroots level. In addition, the JLR Project facilitates
and organizes capacity-building workshops on fair trial rights and trial monitoring methodology for
other NGOs, university students and judicial stakeholders. The JLR Project also engages in dialogue
with key judicial and other stakeholders including the Court of Appeal and the Ministry of Justice
to share ideas and raise awareness about the JLR Projects findings in respect of fair trial rights.
Finally, the JLR Project also produces a number of outputs, including legislative analyses of new laws,

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judicial analyses and submissions, briefing notes, press releases, factsheets, and legal analyses in
response to developments in the justice sector.

CCHR will also continue its monitoring of criminal trials in the Cambodian courts, with a view to
reporting and advocating against breaches of defendants fair trial rights. As long as resources are
available, and as long as CCHR can demonstrate on an ongoing basis that its court monitoring is not
superficial and unnecessarily exhaustive, but does in fact bear tangible results, then there is a strong
argument for saying that CCHR should continue it, while at the same time pivoting more towards
HRD and fundamental freedoms cases. In particular, it could make a name for itself in focusing on
the increasing number of online freedom of expression cases, which would tie in neatly with its
increased emphasis on ICT tools, digital rights, and online freedom of expression. If countries like
Thailand, Vietnam, China and Burma are any indication of the way things are heading in Cambodia,
and especially if the Cybercrime Law is enacted, then there could be a real spike in such cases over
the next five years especially in the lead-up to the 2018 National Assembly elections.

Another activity which would complement the trial monitoring element, and the JLR Projects general
advocacy and analysis regarding judicial matters, would be to conduct strategic litigation on sensitive
cases particularly cases involving HRDs. That might involve finding lawyers to represent defendants
in Facebook and Twitter cases, and helping them to construct a high profile and principled defense
founded on domestic and international human rights law.

CCHR could engage more with government institutions, not only advocating with the Cambodian
courts and the Ministry of Justice, but also the Council for Legal and Judicial Reform on the basis of
key findings and recommendations accumulated during the course of its trial monitoring work. CCHR
could also shift its focus primarily to the Court of Appeal (as it has already begun to do) and, in time,
the Supreme Court, where by definition the more important cases tend to end up. It could also
employ a more sophisticated method of monitoring that takes substantive fair trial rights issues into
account as much as procedural ones. In addition, it could write in-depth policy briefs on JLR8 as well
as fair trial rights, and draft and submit official judicial submissions, such as amicus briefs and other
judicial submissions to the United Nations (the UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. In
doing so, it could collaborate closely with prestigious international partners that have significant
expertise in these areas, such as the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Finally, CCHR could also consider highlighting impunity especially in the context of land rights
abuses and other human rights abuses by state and corporate actors and work with the Cambodian
judiciary to strengthen the rule of law. The ideal end result would be a country where no one is
above the law.

3.3 Equality and Discrimination

CCHR is very well-known for its work on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression
(SOGIE). Indeed, with staunch support from its donor, the Swedish Association for Sexuality
Education (RFSU), for many years now it has run a highly effective SOGIE Project that promotes and
protects the human rights of LGBTIQ people in Cambodia who currently face significant
discrimination. It does so by supporting LGBTIQ activists and victims and empowering them to

8
See, for instance, CCHR Briefing Note, Judicial Reform, February 2013, Phnom Penh,
<www.cchrcambodia.org/index_old.php?url=media/media.php&p=analysis_detail.php&anid=29&id=5>.
8
advocate for their own human rights, to the great benefit of the LGBTIQ activists and victims of
LGBTIQ abuse and discrimination. CCHR fully intends to continue the SOGIE Project for the next five
years assuming continuing support from RFSU or other suitable donors, and subject to an ongoing
review of the SOGIE Projects effectiveness, viability and sustainability.

However, it has been suggested that LGBTIQ abuse and discrimination is not one of Cambodias
foremost human rights problems, that LGBTIQ people are much better off in Cambodia than in many
other parts of the world. There may be some truth in this: while Cambodian culture is traditionally
discriminatory towards LGBTIQ people and still views them with suspicion and some contempt,
government officials have largely been supportive of CCHRs efforts as clear an indication as any
that CCHR is sailing with a prevailing wind. Moreover, there is a feeling that things have improved,
with discrimination declining over recent years. Yet there is still a lot of work to be done, as LGBTIQ
activists and people continue to suffer SOGIE abuse and discrimination of all descriptions and from
many quarters. Given that CCHR has made a name for itself in this relatively new field (for
Cambodia), it would make sense to continue its valuable work, hopefully with two (rather than one)
staff members, in order to increase the capacity of the SOGIE Project.

Furthermore, the SOGIE Project will make some positive changes, such as: (1) taking on occasional
strategic litigation cases in relation to LGBTIQ activists or victims in order to raise the profile of
LGBTIQ peoples rights; (2) increasing its interventions by providing legal support to LGBTIQ activists
as part of the HRD protection mechanism, using a pool of lawyers who have already been trained in
laws and strategies relating to potential SOGIE cases; (3) consulting more with LGBTIQ activists and
rights holders when devising human rights interventions or statements on SOGIE issues; (4) more
proactively engaging with LGBTIQ individuals, NGOs, activists and the Cambodian LGBTIQ community
as a whole, in order to build the LGBTIQ network and to increase ownership, participation,
accountability and empowerment as regards the LGBTIQ community; (5) conducting high-level
research and advocacy regarding the human rights situation of LGBTIQ people in Cambodia and
providing relevant policy recommendations; (6) initiating high impact LGBTIQ advocacy campaigns
such as CCHRs highly successful rainbow krama (traditional Cambodian scarf) of a few years ago;
and (7) helping coordinate LGBTIQ events, such as the annual global Pride Week, with other LGBTIQ
groups and NGOs working in Cambodia, such as Rainbow Community Kampuchea and CamASEAN.

Moreover, it will endeavor to focus predominantly on its main remit advocating for the protection
of the human rights of LGBTIQ people rather than straying into the fields of health and education,
in which other NGOs and organizations are already effectively engaged. Finally, and most
importantly, CCHR will ensure that it incorporates SOGIE considerations as an approach in all its
human rights work, interventions and publications, and mainstreams it across its other programs and
projects. In other words, SOGIE will not merely be viewed as a discrete CFA or program, but as a
cross-cutting approach in every human rights area. CCHR will do so by training its other Project
Coordinators, so that they are properly versed in understanding, analyzing and reacting to SOGIE
issues in their own projects. An example might be the BHR Projects monitoring whether lesbian
garment workers suffer SOGIE discrimination, and then collaborating with the SOGIE Project as and
when such violations occur. As per (4) above, it could also proactively link lesbian garment workers
to the SOGIE Project so as to increase their contacts, support network and protection mechanisms.

Another structural change that CCHR will implement over the next five years is to re-group the SOGIE
Project under a broader Equality and Discrimination Program. This program will also allow CCHR to
9
focus on: (1) womens rights, either exclusively in connection with the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to which Cambodia is a State signatory, or on womens
rights in the context of female political participation, an area in which CCHR has significant
experience and which would link neatly with its work on political participation more generally; and
(2) ethnic and minority rights, focusing particularly on the disturbing trend towards anti-Vietnamese
rhetoric and racism that has cast a shadow over Cambodia since the start of the political campaign
for the 2013 National Assembly elections an area in which CCHR established a principled and
authoritative voice in the aftermath of the 2013 elections as well as on the rights of the
beleaguered Khmer Krom minority in southern Vietnam. This broader Equality and Discrimination
Program falls into the second tier of CCHRs CFAs, and will therefore be allocated a corresponding
level of financial and human resources.

3.4 BHR
The objective of the existing BHR Project is to achieve an increase in the demand of the public in
Cambodia and abroad for the respect of human rights by garment factories operating in Cambodia
and the incorporation of the UN Guiding Principles on BHR into the policies and day-to-day
operations of garment factories. CCHR feels that, while BHR is a core area in terms of human rights
in Cambodia and the region, such a specific and niche project does not allow it to focus on the wider
and vital issue as to how to accommodate the private sector into the human rights dialogue at a
time when domestic and international investment and development are booming in a country where
the rule of law is severely lacking. Over the course of the next five years, CCHR intends to broaden
its funding base and area of focus to the overall impact of business and investment on the human
rights landscape in Cambodia. It will conduct high-level research and policy advocacy, and will
engage constructively with not only the private sector but also government ministries, local
authorities, CSOs and individuals affected by business-driven human rights violations. CCHR does not
intend to restrict itself to one industry, namely the garment industry, but will also include other
industries in the scope of its analysis and engagement, such as the agro-industrial and extractive,
service and tourism, real estate, and financial and investment industries. In addition, CCHR will
monitor the leisure and sex industries, which will complement its work on SOGIE, equality and
discrimination.

CCHR plans to continue to focus on land reform over the next five years, due to the seriousness of
the ongoing land crisis and the accompanying human rights violations, though many have pointed
out that it is not one of CCHRs strengths. Despite doing away with the roundtable discussions, policy
platforms, and other talking shops that characterized previous incarnations of the project, CCHRs
Land Reform Project suffers from a lack of (1) financial and human resources, (2) expertise in land
law, (3) experience and institutional capacity in terms of monitoring land rights abuses, and (4) a field
presence and first-hand information from the provinces, where most land rights abuses occur.

The immediate solution is to bring CCHRs Land Reform Project under the auspices of its BHR
Program. That would mean that the Land Reform Project would be very much streamlined, focusing
primarily on private and corporate investment and operations, and specifically how they affect
peoples land rights. Such an approach would suit CCHRs obvious strengths, namely its advocacy,
research and policy capacity. For example, it could concentrate on advocating for reform of the

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existing national land legal, institutional and policy framework.9 It would also strengthen the BHR
Program, consolidating CCHRs reputation as an authoritative voice on the broader spectrum of BHR.

However, it must be emphasized that the BHR Program does not fall neatly into CCHRs stated remit
of civil and political rights, albeit it helps to achieve CCHRs objective regarding mitigating the
negative human rights impact that economic development tends to have. The implication is that,
while CCHR fully intends to pursue this avenue of work, if financial or human resources demand at
any stage that CCHR restrict its CFAs to three, it would be the BHR Program that would be
discontinued. However, while resources allow, and with the restructuring mentioned above, CCHR
believes that the BHR Program can flourish and be highly effective and successful over the next five
years. In the event that it is discontinued at any stage over the next five years, CCHR would of course
drastically reduce its work in this area and focus instead on its area of expertise: supporting land
rights and other activists who have suffered human rights violations in accordance with CCHRs HRD
strategy and, in particular, its HRD protection mechanism and fund. Furthermore, it would advocate
through its JLR Program should any such activists or HRDs be judicially harassed, arrested, detained,
charged, sentenced or imprisoned.

3.5 Political Participation, Rights and Reform

CCHR has never had a sustained program devoted to political participation, rights and reform, except
ad hoc projects such as a former project promoting the participation of women in politics, another
promoting electoral and democratic space, and another focusing on community dialogue about
human rights and democracy. However, because of its stated focus on democracy and on civil and
political rights generally, this is an area that CCHR could potentially develop over the next five years.
Indeed, it was one of the five CFAs stated in CCHRs 2013-2015 Strategic Plan, but was the only one
not to have resources devoted to it over the last three years. This CFA certainly falls within the third
tier of priority though, and, as such, will only be developed if appropriate funding can be secured,
and most likely much closer to the National Assembly elections in July 2018 possibly starting at the
beginning of 2018, or, ideally, in the run-up to the 2017 commune elections.

3.6 Miscellaneous Research, Advocacy and Policy

Finally, CCHR will resurrect its vital Miscellaneous Research, Advocacy and Policy Program. Such an
approach allows it the flexibility to: (1) focus on human rights issues that do not fall neatly under
CCHRs projects or programs; (2) be responsive to important developments or unforeseen events; (3)
look into niche or new thematic areas; (4) delve deeper into human rights issues, examining causes
and trends rather than just symptoms; and (5) maintain a high-profile, independent and authoritative
voice on human rights in Cambodia. Over the years, CCHR has released a large number of press
releases, media comments, opinion pieces, fact sheets, briefing notes, legal analyses and research
reports on a wide variety of human rights topics in Cambodia that are not directly related to its
projects or programs.

9
CCHR Briefing Note, Land Reform, Briefing Note, March 2013, Phnom Penh,
<www.cchrcambodia.org/index_old.php?url=media/media.php&p=analysis_detail.php&anid=32&id=5>.
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 4 Strategies for 2016-20

On the basis of CCHRs SWOT analyses, and connected with the CFAs discussed in Section 3 above,
CCHR intends to continue its efforts to develop CCHR into a sophisticated organization that builds on
its strengths and addresses its weaknesses by discarding redundant or outmoded strategies and
developing new strategies to improve its operations, and thus the human rights situation in
Cambodia. It is hoped that other NGOs will also recognize CCHRs strategies and learn from its
example, so that they in turn can develop their ideas and improve their effectiveness. New
strategies that CCHR will consider whether brand new ideas, new ideas from 2013 that were never
or only partially implemented, or even existing strategies that simply need restating, such is their
importance are set out below:

1. Capitalize upon the growing availability, importance and effectiveness of the internet and
ICT tools, such as social media applications, smart phones and CCHRs Sithi10 human
rights portal, to conduct human rights advocacy, raise awareness of important human rights
issues and events, and promote digital rights and online freedom of expression;

2. Re-establish the Sithi Hub as a physical space for young Cambodian students and activists
to come together, connect with each other, expand their networks, share and discuss human
rights ideas, themes, information, projects, initiatives and activities together, as well as an
online space to promote online freedom of expression and digital rights;

3. Establish the Cambodian youth students, bloggers, youth leaders, etc. as a target group
of CCHRs advocacy and human rights work, involving them in advocacy campaigns, engaging
them in specific causes and the overall human rights discussion, and giving them the chance
to work in human rights, learn the requisite skills and be mentored by experienced staff;

4. Provide an HRD protection mechanism in the form of assistance legal, financial, logistical,
medical or psychological to HRDs facing, or at risk of facing, violence, physical or judicial
harassment, arrest or imprisonment, as a strategic and sustainable means of improving the
human rights situation by empowering people to advocate for human rights themselves;

5. Conduct strategic litigation on high profile, sensitive or public interest cases e.g., cases
involving HRDs, abuses of fundamental freedoms or online freedom of expression thereby
raising awareness of such issues, bringing international human rights law to the attention of
the public and judicial officials, and testing Cambodias weak judicial system with real cases;

6. Re-engage with community empowerment as a cross-cutting strategy, as (1) it is inherently

sustainable, (2) there is a dire need for advocacy training for grassroots communities and
activities, (3) education is less sensitive than pure advocacy, and (4) CCHR could thus both
raise awareness and strengthen ties with its constituents and rights-holders generally.

7. Promote specialization and collaboration, by ensuring that CCHRs programs remain

reflective of its strengths namely advocacy, legal analysis and policy analysis thus

10
Sithi means rights in Khmer.
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 enabling CCHR to become the Cambodian expert in its CFAs and engendering collaboration
with other CSO partners when CCHRs areas of expertise are complementary to their own;

8. Conduct principled analysis that is objective, impartial and consistent with its stated values
and human rights principles, and advocate on that basis alone, not favoring any political
party, individual or movement, so that CCHR is recognized for being a truly independent and
authoritative voice on the human rights situation in Cambodia;

9. Instigate constructive engagement with government institutions and the private sector, as it
is the best way to initiate necessary dialogue, present ideas and arguments, earn mutual
trust and respect, build relationships, increase influence with important and powerful actors,
and find solutions by providing honest and well-supported policy recommendations; and

10. Ensure the strategic use of publications, rather than just publishing them into the ether and
hoping for the best, by voicing its verbal positions more at launches, media briefings, etc.
in order to back up positions stated in written publications, and by assessing the strategic
value of each publication when writing it, rather than just doing it for its own sake.

Old strategies that are to be discarded are set out below:

1. Discontinue video live streaming to broadcast CCHRs popular and successful radio
programs, until such a time as internet connections and download speeds in Cambodia are
strong and fast enough to cope with it, and in the meantime persevere with audio live
streaming, which is still a highly effective means of making use of increasing digital access;

2. Resist using naming and shaming as a default option for human rights violators
especially companies and individual government officials while ensuring that it is
nevertheless retained as an option, likewise the option of issuing statements condemning
human rights abuses perpetrated by the RGC or state institutions as a first reaction;

3. Reject any court monitoring that is superficial and unnecessarily exhaustive, and ensure
that activities bear tangible and substantive results, in terms of promoting observation of fair
trial rights and due process in all judicial proceedings, and help to secure broader, deeper
institutional and cultural reform throughout the Cambodian judiciary; and

4. Avoid any attempts to compete with other NGOs as regards comprehensive monitoring of
human rights abuses, since CCHR suffers from a lack of (1) financial and human resources, (2)
expertise, experience and institutional capacity, and (3) a field presence and first-hand
information coming from the provinces, where many human rights abuses occur.

5 Conclusion Five Strategic Priorities

The following five strategic priorities have been based upon all of the SWOT analyses that CCHR has
conducted, take into account CCHRs strengths and weaknesses, and assess threats and
opportunities in terms of CCHR, Cambodian human rights NGOs and the overall political and human
rights situation in the country. They aim to look down the line, certainly as far as the 2018 national
elections, and also consider the broader picture. As such, these are the areas that CCHR will devote
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most time, funds, human resources and strategic focus over the next three to five years. All CCHR
staff contributed to these five strategic priorities, and there was a remarkable degree of consensus,
which has made the task of narrowing them down to five much easier. The five strategic priorities
are as follows:

1. LANGO implementation and the stifling of civil society space, HRDs and political opposition;
2. The potential of ICT tools, digital rights, online activism and online freedom of expression;
3. The Cybercrime Law, Trade Union Law and other laws that restrict fundamental freedoms;
4. The 2017 communal and 2018 national elections and associated political violence; and
5. Donor trends and priorities, funding streams and opportunities.

For more information, please contact CCHR Executive Director Chak Sopheap via telephone on:
+855 (0) 11 943 213 or by e-mail at: chaksopheap@cchrcambodia.org.

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