HumanTrafficking.org | Cambodia NGO: Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP)

A web resource for combating human trafficking

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Cambodia

Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP)

Address

Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP)
#12, Street #282
Sangkat Boeng Keng Kang 1
Phnom Penh
Cambodia

Contact Information

If calling from Cambodia:

Tel: 023 720 032
Fax: 023 720 031

If calling from overseas:

Tel: +855 23 720 032
Fax: +855 23 720 031

Website

http://www.cdpcambodia.org

Email

cdp@cdpcambodia.org

Activities

The Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP) was established in 1994 in Cambodia as a project of the International Human Rights Law Group (based in the United States, now called Global Rights) as an international non-governmental organization. In 2001, CDP became a local non-governmental organization. CDP is comprised of the first generation of post-conflict human rights lawyers in Cambodia. It is a provider of various types of legal services and is operated and staffed primarily by Cambodian nationals with some expatriate managerial and advisor support.

Mission
CDP's overarching mission is to strengthen the rule of law, the administration of justice and the development of a liberal democracy. Its primary activities are as follows: providing case representation to poor and vulnerable Cambodian men, women and children who are victims of human rights abuses; raising legal awareness, knowledge and skills among Cambodian society with a focus on law enforcement, judicial officials and other key actors and institutions; and providing legal advocacy on legislation and the legislative process and discourse through various media outlets such as legal publications, newspapers, radio and television.

The Women's Resource Center (WRC)
CDP created the Women's Resource Center (WRC) in 1997 specifically to meet the needs of victims of domestic violence. To start, the WRC conducted general training and "train the trainer" workshops for women's NGOs focusing on legal strategy, safety and protection issues, and the need to empower battered women by involving them in the legal decision-making process. Training has been given on the laws relating to domestic violence - marriage, family and criminal laws - to NGOs, government officials, police, lawyers and students. The WRC is committed to community education through the development, publication and distribution of information to raise awareness and promote women's legal rights and access to the court system.

In 2002, WRC launched its "Community Sentinels Against Domestic Violence" project with the primary objective to counter the prevalence of domestic violence in Cambodian society by addressing the reluctance of victims to come forward and of local officials to act when instances of domestic violence occur in their communities. WRC originally identified, trained, deployed and supported community-based sentinels in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Battambang, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom - all locations where CDP has offices. The project has expanded to the provinces of Kampong Som, Kampot, Koh Kong, Kratie, Pursat and Siem Reap. The sentinels are community-minded citizens who are trained and monitored by WRC to have the skills and knowledge to counsel women and families who suffer from domestic violence. They have been able to act as a source of support and practical advice for the women, helping them to access the specialist services of human rights and legal organizations, such as CDP. Along with training and supervising the sentinels, CDP also involves and trains key actors within the community such as commune leaders and local law enforcement to enable them to address domestic violence issues with enhanced knowledge and skill levels.

Following a successful workshop on trafficking held by CDP in 1998, CDP led an NGO working group to discuss issues relating to trafficking in persons and to set a plan of action to fight against trafficking and assist trafficking victims. This involvement in trafficking issues led to the creation of CDP's Center Against Trafficking (CAT) in February 2001. CAT's primary undertaking is to work closely with relevant organizations and institutions, government officials and police to effectively investigate and prosecute the criminals who make up the trafficking network and to provide legal assistance to the victims of trafficking.

The Asia Foundation supports the Cambodian Defenders Project’s CDP’s Center Against Trafficking to enable CDP lawyers to develop their skills in handling trafficking cases and in providing high-quality, pro-bono legal services to victims. Of the ten trafficking cases that have led to convictions, CDP has represented five of them. Research conducted by the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center (CWCC) on attitudes of the police and courts toward trafficking victims provided the basis for strategically targeted new initiatives. These include supporting advocacy groups to monitor courts to promote due process in trafficking cases, and efforts to reduce judicial corruption.

Adapted from The Asia Foundation Projects on Human Trafficking