CCHR Releases Report Examining Electoral Processes and Democratic Practices in Cambodia

CCHR Press Release – Phnom Penh, 15 September 2011

CCHR Releases Report Examining Electoral Processes and Democratic Practices in Cambodia

On this international day of democracy, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), a non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia, releases a report titled “Strengthening Electoral Processes and Democratic Practices in Cambodia: A Report on Forum on Elections and DemocraticSpace” (the “Report”).

The Report is the output of a CCHRimplemented Forums on Elections and Democratic Space (FOREDS) Project supportedby United Nations Development Programme aimed at engaging a number ofstakeholders, including decision makers at the local and central levels,electoral constituents and civil society. The purpose of the FOREDS Project wasto identify issues of concerns in the areas of elections and democraticgovernance, to provide a neutral forum for a wide range of stakeholders toraise and debate issues related to the democratic and electoral processes, andto promote civic participation and seek solutions for improvements inidentified areas through an open and respectful dialogue.

Between 21 October and 2 December 2010, CCHR conducted forums inBattambang, Ratanakiri, Takeo and Phnom Penh, engaging a total of 737 people. Basedon stakeholder consultation and discussions at the forums, the Report notesthat there has been a failure to entrench a culture of democratic participation in Cambodia which was due to a number of factors, including: lack of understanding of electoral processes, physical barriers to voting; distrust of a system that is considered not to ensure equal participation; and reverence to paternalistic traditions which stymies civic participation, even outside of elections. The report also outlines concerns raised by participants in relation to attempts by local officials at preventing non-ruling party aligned individuals from registering to vote, efforts to frustrate opposition candidates from exercising the right to freedom of expression in order to campaign effectively and concerns with respect to the composition and independence of the National Election Commission. The issues raised at the forums and solutions for their improvement were presented to a representative of the Ministry of Interior at a Workshop in Phnom Penh on 8 December 2010. CCHR notes that since the completion of the FOREDS Project a number of changes have been implemented which go some way towards addressing some of the issues identified at the forums, for example the suspension of the use of the Form 1018 and the extension in the period for voter registration.

Speaking on electoral processes and democratic practices, Ou Virak, President of CCHR, commented:

“The FOREDS Project has demonstrated that Cambodia’s multi-party democracy is still young and that in order to maintain and encourage democratic development an increase in civic participation is fundamental. I sincerely hope that the Royal Government of Cambodia, Ministry of Interior, National Election Committee and other stakeholders give due consideration to the accounts of the Cambodian people about their experience with the democratic process as documented in the Report and take heed of the recommendations made to support demand for improved electoral processes and democratic practices. This must be duly considered not only ahead of the 2012Commune Elections and 2013 General Elections, but generally to create more responsive democratic practices that encourage the evolution of citizen-state relations.”

-ENDS-

The Report is available to view or to download in Khmer or English on the Cambodian Human Rights Portal, www.sithi.org, and on the CCHR website, www.cchrcambodia.org.

For more information please contact Ou Virak, CCHR President, via telephone on +855 12404 051 or via email at ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org, or Suon Bunthoeun , Project Coordinator, via telephone on +855 12 483 546 or via email at bunthoeun@cchrcambodia.org.

Please find attached this press release in both English and Khmer.

http://www.box.net/shared/2pcdk4tkvv0rkb6kpk0g


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