#16, St. 298
Sangkat Boeung Kengkang I
Khan Chamkar Morn
Phnom Phen
Tel 85523 211812
Contact Nhek Sarin
www.starkampuchea.org.kh

Strengthening Democracy by Strengthening Civil Society

STAR Kampuchea is a Cambodian non-profit and non-partisan organization. It was established in August 1997 and is dedicated to building democracy by strengthening civil society. Since it was founded, STAR Kampuchea has become a well-known and respected organization with a solid reputation among civil society organizations, government bodies and donors. Thousands of people and hundreds of NGOs have benefited from its activities. In 2004, the organization was internationally honored with the WANGO Civil Society Development Award.

As an advocacy network and service organization, STAR Kampuchea has established close cooperation with 39 officially affiliated NGOs in six provinces and coordinates four Provincial Networks of NGOs, which are working on land, forestry and fishery issues at a grassroots level. It coordinates the Advocacy Team (AT), a group of representatives from 27 Cooperating Organizations. STAR Kampuchea also addresses the labour movement as a strong civil society organization.

STAR Kampuchea 's keyword is advocacy, the "organized efforts and actions that use the instruments of democracy to establish and implement laws and policies that will create a just and equitable society" (Definition of the Advocacy Institute, Washington, D.C.). Advocacy activities should strengthen democracy, the respect for human rights and civil society on the basis of the rule of law.

To achieve its objectives, STAR Kampuchea currently runs two main programs: the Advocacy Action Program (AAP) and the Advocacy Capacity Action Program (ACP).

The Advocacy Capacity Building Program (ACP) aims to build the capacity of grassroots organizations working in the field of land, fishery, forestry and natural resource management. The ACP offers training to partner groups and co-operating organizations, which should increase their ability to advocate for their interests and needs. To build strong and dynamic civil society organizations, the ACP also offers organizational and financial support. In the frame of the partners' network, the organizations have the opportunity to get in contact with each other, to exchange information and to build up networks.

The Advocacy Action Program (ACP) aims to mobilize as many organizations and Cambodian citizens as possible to improve the implementation of legislation and to include them in the legislative process. Both people in the cities as well as in rural areas are included in the program.

To raise the awareness for Cambodian law, public events are organized, which are closely linked to current political events and development. The participants learn about the laws on the basis of their experience and needs. In discussion with governmental representatives all participants gain advocacy skills and learn about the advantage of networking and citizen's participation. As a consequence people at the grassroots should be able to increasingly participate in discussions and activities, which demand the implementation of legislation in Cambodia .

It is STAR Kampuchea and its Cooperating Organizations' aim that women's empowerment plays an equal role in the country's civil society movement as well as its political affairs. Therefore STAR Kampuchea and its Cooperating Organizations give priority to the inclusion of female participants in the capacity-building activities and is developing strategies to realize this objective especially on the local level.

Land Conflicts in Cambodia
Case Study
Report

List of Advocacy Communities PDF 15KB

Knowledge Programme

Capacity Building : Grassroots Advocacy in Land, Fishery, and Forestry Disputes