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Cambodia

Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)

Address

Cambodian League for the Promotion and
Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
#16, Street 99
Boeung Trabek,Phnom Penh
Cambodia

Contact Information

If calling from Cambodia:

Tel: 023 360 965/ 023 211 391
Fax: 023 360 965/ 023 217 626

If calling from overseas:

Tel: +855 23 360 965/211 391
Fax: +855 23 360 965/217 626

Website

http://www.licadho.org/

Email

contact@licadho.org

Activities

The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) working to promote and defend human rights in Cambodia. It protects and assists victims of rights abuses, acts as a watchdog over the government and judiciary, and advocates for lasting change to create a culture in which the rights of the most vulnerable are respected.

LICADHO strives to improve the human rights situation in Cambodia through a multi-pronged approach that includes: investigating human rights violations, providing direct assistance and legal advocacy for victims; conducting research and advocacy campaigns on prevalent rights abuses; and giving human rights training to authorities and the public. LICADHO presses for enduring change through advocacy with key-decision makers, and by providing reliable, information about the human rights situation in Cambodia.

LICADHO has a seven program offices: Human Rights Education; Monitoring Office; Medical Office; the Project Against Torture; Children's Rights Office; Women's Rights Office; and the newly formed Documentation, Resources and Advocacy Office.

Human Rights Education
LICADHO trainers provide regular three-day courses on human rights, legal procedures and democratic principles to selected target groups, which include police officers, students and monks, using a range of educational media and a participatory learning approach. LICADHO's provincial trainers also disseminate human rights information to the general public at the village, commune and district level.

Monitoring of Human Rights Violations
LICADHO monitors the human rights situation in Cambodia by collecting and analyzing information on violations such as rape and sexual exploitation, torture in custody, extra judicial killings, illegal detentions, disappearances, threats and intimidation, land expropriations, and illegal destruction of properties. Monitors in Phnom Penh and the provinces monitor eighteen detention centers and the central office keeps updated records of the conditions of prisoners and human rights violations that occur in detention.

Medical Assistance
LICADHO's medical team conducts monthly visits in eighteen Phnom Penh and provincial prisons, providing medical services to inmates and prison officials. Nutritional supplements and specialized medical care are given to meet the particular needs of pregnant women in custody, children of female prisoners and other vulnerable groups. In Phnom Penh, the medical team also provides treatment for victims of human rights abuses within the general population.

Project Against Torture
Established in January 2000, the Project Against Torture provides a comprehensive range of services for victims to assist them in their recovery and the development of coping mechanisms. The services include physical, psychosocial, and economic rehabilitation for all forms of torture, including torture by the police, prison officials or other government officials, domestic violence and other forms of severe violence committed by civilians.

Children's Rights
Specialized trainers in Phnom Penh and selected provinces conduct participatory training sessions for parents, children, local authorities and NGO's in order to promote understanding and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child Protection Networks bring together provincial officials, local authorities, parents and children to conduct grassroots prevention and protection activities emphasizing the participation of children, focused on combating the worst forms of child labor. Children's Rights monitors in Phnom Penh also provide legal, social and referral services to child victims of rape, domestic violence, trafficking and other human rights violations.

Women's Rights
LICADHO plays an active role in promoting gender awareness and the rights of women through training workshops held in Phnom Penh and selected provinces for NGO workers, community leaders, civil servants, police and military personnel. LICADHO provides referral services including legal representation, counseling, medical care and emergency assistance to victims of rape, trafficking and domestic violence. LICADHO works with local and international committees to promote and advocate for women's rights.

Advocacy, Documentation and Resources
As a corresponding member of Federation Internationale des Droits de L'homme and a member of Forum Asia, LICADHO maintains regular contact with international human rights organizations, providing information to Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other international organizations.

On a national level, LICADHO is an active member of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee and several other committees targeting the rights of vulnerable groups, including women, children and minorities. LICADHO produces, publishes and distributes comprehensive reports and studies on human rights issues in Cambodia, and regularly organizes events in Phnom Penh and throughout its provincial network to commemorate International Women's Day, International Children's Day, International Day of Solidarity with the Victims of Torture, International Human Rights Day and others. The newly formed Advocacy, Documentation and Resources Office houses LICADHO's two databases and provides statistics, reports, press releases and LICADHO materials to the general public, partner organizations, donor agencies and UN offices, among others.

LICADHO published their 2006 Report on Violence against Women in Cambodia.