Doing Democracy

It's hard to feel like you're making a difference in this very complicated country, but today was encouraging. I've been working with the National Election Committee, the body that oversees Cambodia's electoral process. There are nine members - four from the ruling party, four from an opposition party, and one non-partisan. I'm working with the neutral member (I don't envy his job!) to integrate a human rights approach into a new national civic education curriculum in development. We discussed the rights of women, indigenous people, and people with disabilities; the importance of meaningful youth participation in public life; and the challenge of guiding young people to reconcile human rights rhetoric with the realities of their daily lives. This was powerful in a state that has recently cracked down on NGOs, unions, journalists, political opponents, and ordinary citizens using harsh laws, intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and even assassination. I'm choosing to be hopeful today about the possibility of change for the next generation.

The Cambodian Parliament