USAID/Cambodia Human Rights Program

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The USAID/Cambodia Mission has developed DRAFT Program Objectives for a prospective program to support Human Rights Organizations, Defenders and Community Activists. According to the 2021 U.S. Department of State Human Rights Report section on Cambodia, “Significant human rights issues included credible reports of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; arbitrary detention by the government; political prisoners and detainees; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary interference in the private lives of citizens, including pervasive electronic media surveillance; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence and threats of violence, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, criminal libel laws, and censorship; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; serious restrictions on political participation; serious and pervasive government corruption, including in the judiciary; serious government restrictions on or harassment of domestic or international human rights organizations; lack of investigation of and accountability for violence against women; trafficking in persons; and the worst forms of child labor, including forced or compulsory child labor.”[1] USAID/Cambodia seeks to understand the challenges and opportunities to support human rights organizations, human rights defenders, and community activists. USAID/Cambodia is exploring development of new activities in support of its Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), Development Objective 3: Human Rights Protected and Government Accountability Advanced; Intermediate Result 3.1 – Strengthened Defense of Constitutional and Other Legal Rights. In particular, USAID/Cambodia is interested in engaging Cambodian organizations that promote fundamental freedoms, internationally recognized human rights and rights guaranteed under the Cambodian Constitution. This will include both the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with, but not limited to, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well social, cultural, and economic rights in accordance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The purpose of this RFI is to provide industry, stakeholders, and interested organizations an opportunity to: Provide information and suggestions on the upcoming activity; and Explore innovative approaches to better partner with international and local organizations to work in a complex operating environment and to address the needs of the Cambodian Human Rights Community, particularly to mitigate risk and safety concerns for Cambodian organization, rights defenders, and community activists. [1] https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cambodia

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