Oxfam together with three partners, Cambodia Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Development and Partnership in Action (DPA) and Building Community Voices (BCV) organized a workshop on “Improving Rights to Land and Natural Resources and Laws Enforcement” yesterday in Preah Vihear province to 115 participants from sub-national provincial team including provincial governor, police, armed forces and local NGOs.
The objective of the workshop was to improve knowledge on land rights, increase collaboration between authority and communities in land conflict and provide a space to affected community to raise concern over land conflict and seek for better way of working.
Land is the most significant property for farmer whose livelihood depend on farming and agriculture productivity.
H.E. Sou Serey, Deputy Governor of Presh Viear Province said “In Cambodia, there are laws and regulations supporting rights to land and natural resources of local community. People enjoy their rights to land and natural resources but must following the rule of laws.”
Speakers from Provincial Court, Specialized departments and lawyers shared about land dispute resolution mechanism that have been put for implementation at all level and encouraged all dispute parties to registered their complaint with authority, if any so that they could identify next step effectively.
Seven existing disputed cases related to land and natural resources conflict were reported by community representative during the workshop and brought attention from authorities to intervention for fair and just resolution. Even though none of those cases were settled yet during the workshop but it was a great move for all stakeholders to take next actions base on their role, duty and authority in each area.
From left: H.E. Sou Serey (Deputy Provincial Governor of Presh Vihear), Mr. Ny Sokha (Head of Land and Human Rights Investigator, ADHOC), Mr. Sam Tithseiha (ADHOC’s Lawyer) , Mr. Men Sovatha (Deputy Head, Department of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction), Mr. Meas Nheum (Head of office of Protected Area), Mrs. Chhum Koniya (Representative of Provincial Court), and Mr. Ty Sovantha (Provincial Prosecutor). Photo: Asisah Man/Oxfam