EU Awards $2 million to Eight New Human Right Projects

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (11 January 2011)

The European Union (EU) is awarding about € 1.6 million (over $ 2 million) to eight new human rights projects in order to improve human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Cambodia.

The implementing organizations will be mainly Cambodian NGOs. The eight projects were selected from 23 project proposals that were submitted following a call for proposals which was launched last year by the EU Delegation in Cambodia and the EU global human rights program Since 2003, the EU has provided more than € 13.5 million (about $18 million) in grants to support human rights actions in Cambodia, in partnership with local as well as international NGOs.

"Human rights and democracy form the cornerstone of the EU and are fundamental to all activities supported by the EU in Cambodia," said the EU Delegation Head of Operations Ms. Michelle Labeeu.  "On behalf of the EU Delegation, I am delighted to welcome those eight new projects on board and I am convinced that they will contribute to the development of Cambodia and its people", added Ms. Labeeu.

The selected projects are:

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) receives over € 95,000 to do a 24 month project throughout Cambodia in order to empower vulnerable communities to protect their land from being illegally grabbed and to ensure peaceful and acceptable resolutions are made possible to land disputes.

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) receives a grant of over € 131,000 for a 22 month project to raise awareness about the importance of local democracy and participation in democratic processes during and after elections.

The Indigenous Community Support Organization (ICSO) is given € 300,000 to run a 36 month project in Ratanakiri province to support and empower indigenous communities to preserve their cultural and traditional identities, their ancestral land and secure their communal land titles.

SILAKA through its partner, DanchurchAid, receives a grant of € 285,000 for a 36 month project aimed at empowering Cambodian women leaders at the sub-national levels and to bring essential social services to Cambodia’s most vulnerable groups, as well as advocating for the protection of their rights.

Protection of Juvenile Justice (PJJ) is awarded with over € 277,000 to do a 24 month project in order to promote the respect of the rights of incarcerated children to ensure that they obtain proper access to legal assistance, health care and respect.

Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC) through its partner, REDD BARNA (Save the Children Norway), receive over € 480,000 for a 36 months project in Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap to contribute to the development of a child-friendly justice process and to strengthen the implementation of children’s rights through national and international law in Cambodia.