Strengthening the rights for IP CIPO-CIWA in partnering with Oxfam in Cambodia is implementing the project namely “Strengthening the rights and collective voice ofIP to prevent their rights from the impact of mining investment in Keo Seima District, Mondulkiri province” In Cambodia there are many organization and institutions that work on indigenous people in capacity building, various knowledge about the rights to freedomof expression, political rights, the rights access to social protection. Although many relevant organization andinstitutions paid attention on indigenous women, but their problem have not been responded yet. Seeing this, minority women from different indigenous group have common idea to establish the indigenous women network to voice their issues and concerns and,hold the government and private sector to account and protect. The benefit of their communities. On 02 September 2018 women’ group organized a consultation workshop on the establishment of the first women’s network in Cambodia, coordinated by the Cambodia Indigenous People Alliance (CIPA), Cambodia Indigenous People Organization (CIPO) Highlander Association (HA). Following its inception, the women’s group received supported from International Indigenous Women Forum (IIWF) through the Cambodia IndigenousPeople’ financial system to carry out its activity starting in April 2019. In 2020 the women’s group have prepared its action plan according to the old plan from last year, discussed with the members who do not yet have the budget to support and implement out the activity. For the women’s team, there are many issues and needs that must be push and addressed indigenous communities, such as land rights issues decimation issue, economic, education, mining issue and climate change issue.
The project was developed by CIPO-CIWWG seeing the impact of mining investment in Mondulkiri and its potential impacts on community’s livelihood, heath, and environment and to empower IP women to take control and protect their resources and, ensure social and, environmentalsafeguarding. In addition, the women would like to have frequent training or meeting with communities living around mining investment area to strengthen their capacity to recognize their rights to participate in the early stages of research and environmentalassessment. Community awareness on the impact prevention methods are important to seek intervention from the company and the ministry of the mines and energy to take strict action against the activities of its workers who violate the national law. The strengthening IP women network in the mining-affected area of communities, forests communities,and indigenous collective communities is crucial to voice their concerns and hold the government and company accountable.
The goal of the project is that IPwomenand men realized their rights to protect their community and environment from potential mining impacts.
To reach this goal the project aims to strengthen the rights and collective voice of indigenous women to influence and prevent from the potential impact of mining investment. Three expected outcomes of the project are: 1: Strengthened indigenous women solidarity, movement and common voice of all level; 2: Indigenous women leaders living in/around the Okvav commune, Keo Seima district, MondulkiriProvinceare able to monitor water quality resulting from mining operation using Water Testing Tool and 3: IP women are networkedand able to voice their issues and concerns to government and mining company for accountable mining.