Advocacy in Cambodia: Increasing Democratic ... - Pact Cambodia
Advocacy in Cambodia: Increasing Democratic ... - Pact Cambodia
Advocacy in Cambodia: Increasing Democratic ... - Pact Cambodia
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est practices<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the course of this study a number of strategies stood out as best<br />
practices <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Cambodia</strong>n context:<br />
Set Objectives:<br />
Engage <strong>in</strong><br />
Consultation:<br />
Document:<br />
Educate:<br />
Network:<br />
Understand the<br />
Legislative Process:<br />
When lobby<strong>in</strong>g on the Commune Council Election Law, election<br />
monitor<strong>in</strong>g coalitions narrowed their focus to three clear objectives,<br />
with one fallback position. Many advocacy campaigns <strong>in</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong> do<br />
not have specific objectives or have too many.<br />
Obta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g legislative grassroots consultation is not easy <strong>in</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>.<br />
The fisheries network achieved this goal by us<strong>in</strong>g a dual approach that<br />
<strong>in</strong>cluded support<strong>in</strong>g the Department of Fisheries while work<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
local communities to get their <strong>in</strong>put <strong>in</strong>to policies. It was particularly<br />
challeng<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>in</strong>tegrate the comments of fish<strong>in</strong>g representatives who<br />
often have short-term objectives <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d, but <strong>in</strong> the end all parties<br />
were pleased with the process.<br />
Start<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1994, PADV and the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Women’s Affairs<br />
collaborated on a series of research projects that helped identify<br />
domestic violence as a problem <strong>in</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>. Thanks to this research<br />
it was possible for advocates to argue successfully for a domestic<br />
violence law.<br />
The NGO Forum’s forestry network focuses on educat<strong>in</strong>g villagers liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
on forest concession lands about their rights. Distribution of<br />
<strong>in</strong>formation about the 1988 <strong>Cambodia</strong> law bann<strong>in</strong>g the fell<strong>in</strong>g of res<strong>in</strong><br />
trees currently be<strong>in</strong>g tapped by villagers helped villagers disrupt illegal<br />
tree cutt<strong>in</strong>g activities.<br />
This year the <strong>Cambodia</strong>n Confederation of Women’s Organizations<br />
successfully lobbied to add ‘traffick<strong>in</strong>g of women’ to the agenda of the<br />
ASEAN Confederation of Women’s Organizations annual general<br />
meet<strong>in</strong>g, to be held <strong>in</strong> S<strong>in</strong>gapore <strong>in</strong> June 2002.<br />
When proponents of the domestic violence law wanted to mobilize<br />
support for their draft legislation they <strong>in</strong>vited members of the National<br />
Assembly and key figures from the Council of M<strong>in</strong>isters to give their<br />
<strong>in</strong>put. When the draft law is eventually forwarded to those <strong>in</strong>stitutions,<br />
they will f<strong>in</strong>d ready supporters there.<br />
Increas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Democratic</strong> Space<br />
Have a Long-Term<br />
Approach:<br />
Advocates should keep the long-term aspect of advocacy <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d to<br />
avoid giv<strong>in</strong>g up too soon on an issue. This means distribut<strong>in</strong>g tasks<br />
and us<strong>in</strong>g resources carefully to avoid exhaust<strong>in</strong>g personnel and<br />
deflat<strong>in</strong>g morale. It also means be<strong>in</strong>g flexible and hav<strong>in</strong>g backup<br />
strategies for when obstacles are encountered. The Commune Council<br />
Election Law lobby<strong>in</strong>g exhibited many of these characteristics.<br />
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