|
Human
Security, Peace Building and Conflict Transformation
A Programme of CDRI
Dedicated to Building a Culture of Peace
Welcome to the Human Security, Peace Building and Conflict Transformation
Programme web site of the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI).
The programme consists of three units: Human Security Research, Peace
Building and Conflict Transformation Training, and Conflict Prevention in
Cambodian Elections (COPCEL).
In a society and communities fragmented and damaged by decades of conflict,
including the traumatic impact of the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime and its
aftermath, the building and maintenance of peace and stability remain a
fundamental priority if Cambodia is to achieve sustainable development.
Programme Team
Programme Background
Strategic Objectives for 2006-2010
Human Security Research Unit
Peace Building and Conflict Transformation Unit
Strengthening Local Capacities for Peace Building
Working for Peace
Training of Trainers for Peace
Resource Materials for
Peace Education
COPCEL (Conflict Prevention in Cambodian Elections)
Link to our networks working on peace building
Programme Team
Back to top
Mr HAN Phoumin, Programme Manager
Ms HUY Romduol, Senior Programme
Officer, Training Team Leader
Ms TOUCH Varine,
Programme Officer, Training Unit
Ms SOK Sethea, Programme Officer, COPCEL
Mr KER Bopha, Research Associate
Mr NET Neath, Research Associate
Mr LAY Chhan, Local Research Consultant
Ms HUON Chantrea,
Training Support Office/Programme Associate, Training Unit
Ms SAO Nakry, Volunteer for COPCEL
Mr EAM Phyrom, Volunteer for COPCEL
Programme Background
In its 2006–2010 strategic plan, CDRI’s Centre for Peace and Development (CPD)
is being transformed into a broad research-based programme called Human
Security, Peace Building and Conflict Transformation. The CPD was
established in 1996 as the Cambodian Centre for Conflict Resolution. Since
that time, CDRI has taken a leading role in the development of human
resources for peace building in Cambodia. The programme aims to contribute
to building a culture of peace and to enhance human security through applied
research, raising awareness and developing skills for conflict
transformation, and by creating opportunities for constructive engagement
and reconciliation. Its twofold aims are:
-
to enhance policy dialogue and public awareness through applied research
linking peace and human security with governance and development;
-
to strengthen the understanding and the ability of national and local
public officials, community and civil society leaders to transform conflict
into positive social change based on values of tolerance, forgiveness,
non-violence, social justice and interdependence.
Strategic Objectives for 2006-2010
Back to top
-
To review and enhance the quality of training curriculum and design by
piloting new training methodologies based on CDRI’s research experience and
findings, in close collaboration with CDRI researchers and in light of
trends and issues concerning human security in Cambodia.
-
To contribute to free and fair elections and maturing democracy and
respect for human rights through organising an open and independent forum
for discussion, thus preventing misunderstanding, conflict and violence
during elections.
-
To research and identify current issues in human security and their impact
on Cambodia ‘s social and economic development and to propose mechanisms and
solutions to policy makers.
-
To identify and implement processes and measures to enhance the programme
team’s capacity and increase its effectiveness and efficiency in meeting its
objectives within the overall mission of CDRI.
Human Security Research Unit
Since early 2005, CDRI has been building its knowledge and understanding of
the concept of human security and its usefulness for community development
strategies. Insecurity—critical and pervasive threats to lives, livelihoods,
well-being and dignity—is common in poor rural communities. CDRI’s two
current major poverty research studies, Moving Out of Poverty and the Tonle
Sap Participatory Poverty Assessment, confirm this. CDRI is developing a
resource collection on human security issues and building researchers’
awareness of these issues, as the first step in the establishment of a
modest programme of human security policy research during the lifetime of
its new strategic plan. In 2005 CDRI also worked with the United Nations
Centre for Regional Development on a programme of awareness raising,
training and assessments regarding human security, to be carried out in late
2006, the research framework for which is now being developed.
Peace Building and Conflict Transformation Unit
Back to top
The transition from war to peace and the reconstruction and development
process have created new opportunities for positive social change in
Cambodia, based on principles of justice, human rights and
self-determination. At the same time, after decades of armed conflict and
insecurity, these dramatic changes also have the potential to create new
conflicts and inequalities. Promoting the understanding and skills to manage
these changes, and for effective local participation, is an essential
dimension of empowering society in post-conflict situations.
CDRI’s Peace Building and Conflict Transformation Unit aims to contribute to
the building of a culture of peace through awareness raising and community
capacity building. Its training programmes aim to provide community
participants with the awareness and skills to identify conflict, analyse its
causes and seek strategies for its prevention and resolution. The training
programmes draw on case studies generated by CDRI’s research on issues that
cause conflict in Cambodia—family violence, access to natural resources,
political disagreements and local governance issues.
The Peace Building and Conflict Transformation Unit, with the support of
Novib (Oxfam Netherlands), offered training in former Khmer Rouge
reconciliation zones from 2000 to 2004, and then continued offering its
unique community peace building and conflict transformation training
programmes to provincial, district and commune officials, commune council
members, local non-government organisations, pagodas and women’s
associations, monks and police and security officials, in Phnom Penh, Pursat,
Battambang, Kampot and Kratie provinces. Commissioned training was also
designed and delivered for other organisations working in Cambodia: GTZ
Germany, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Mlup Baitong and CIDSE.
Its core activities include:
1. Strengthening Local Capacities for Peace Building
Back to top
Human development through training workshops has proven to be effective in
breaking down prejudices and in creating lasting partnerships for local
development and the management of conflict. The Peace Building and Conflict
Transformation Unit provides a range of specially designed courses to meet
the needs of participants, preceded by a training need assessment.
2. Working for Peace
This is a cross-sector training course to enhance the effectiveness of
members of government, military and civil society working in the field of
peace building. This training consists of four five-day modules and is
presented annually by our experienced trainers at CDRI in the Khmer
language.
Working for Peace training was developed from the Core Training Programme in
Conflict Resolution Skills offered by CDRI in 1997–98 in partnership with
Responding to Conflict (a UK-based organisation specialising in conflict
resolution training). The present course, first offered in 2001, uses a
variety of case studies and problem-posing scenarios from the Cambodian
context. The course facilitators are graduates of the Core Training
Programme in Conflict Resolution Skills, coming from a cross-section of
civil society and government, and have attended Training of Trainers for
Peace.
The course examines current theory and practices as they apply to emerging
issues in Cambodia and the development of the participants’ individual and
organisational capacities. The purpose is to develop and support a community
of conflict management and peace building practitioners with skills training
and resources in order to increase the capacity of Cambodians and Cambodian
institutions to resolve peacefully, manage and prevent conflicts.
Download information related to this course
(click to see page for download)
3. Training of Trainers for Peace
Back to top
Training of Trainers for Peace is designed to provide those already trained
in peace building and conflict management with additional facilitation and
training skills so that they may train others in this field. The course
involves participation in two intensive five-day ToT workshops held at CDRI,
followed by practicum experience during Working for Peace courses over the
coming year in Phnom Penh. This “real life” practicum experience is a key
component and must be completed in order to graduate from the course.
The training method combines presentations on training theory with
participatory learning activities and skills workshops and builds on the
lessons and methodology of Working for Peace and other courses. Participants
learn how to use the Training Manual for Conflict Resolution to prepare
training sessions, and the course draws on their existing knowledge as well
as the experience of the training team and ToT consultant. The course is
conducted in Khmer and facilitated by experienced trainers.
Download information related to this course
(click to see page for download)
4. Resource Materials for Peace Education
CDRI training courses provide leadership in the development of Khmer
language pedagogical resources for peace building. CDRI publications on
peace building include an extensive English-Khmer lexicon of peace building
terms, and The Buddha as Peacemaker, a four-volume set of illustrated
Khmer-language books promoting Buddhist concepts of non-violence and mindful
peace. Other peace-related materials published by CDRI are:
COPCEL (Conflict Prevention in Cambodian Elections)
Back to top
COPCEL is a roundtable forum for open and frank discussion of
election-related issues. As a conflict-prevention mechanism, it provides a
safe and neutral forum for face-to-face dialogue among representatives of
political parties, the government and civil society to discuss election
issues. At the national level, COPCEL consists of monthly meetings involving
extensive preparation, identification of issues, finding of common ground,
building of support and consensus, follow-up and behind-the-scenes dialogue.
The mechanism is viewed as a sustainable structure for trust building
through open, safe and neutral dialogue. From August 1999 up to the 2003
election, COPCEL convened 50 meetings with more than 100 participants. These
included key representatives from the political parties, election monitoring
NGOs, the NEC, security services, women’s organisations and the Ministry of
the Interior. The minutes of each meeting, once approved by the
participants, were sent to the king, all members of the Senate, the National
Assembly, Constitutional Council, NEC, prime minister, deputy prime
ministers, all ministers involved in the conduct of the election, all
provincial governors and deputy governors, about 25 foreign embassies and
other international and civil society organisations.
In the national elections in July 2003, COPCEL contributed to positive
changes in policy and process through discussion of such topics as the
extension of registration, more equitable access to media, improved voter
education, improved security and organisation, more transparent procedures
and selection of election committees, to name a few. COPCEL is widely
respected in Cambodia (and in the region as well) as a mechanism for
conflict prevention and management, and for providing a safe and neutral
forum for promoting a culture of dialogue and building trust. The National
Election Committee and some NGOs have adopted this mechanism in their
programmes.
Looking ahead to the 2006 Senate election, 2007 commune council election and
2008 national election, CDRI launched COPCEL Phase II at a conference in
July 2005 to provide open and neutral forums for the safe discussion of
election-related issues. Its main objective is to prevent conflict, violence
and misunderstanding arising during elections by building trust and
encouraging a culture of dialogue, which is fundamental in building peace
and mature democracy. This phase will run for three years, with financial
support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
COPCEL II brings together government agencies such as national and
provincial election committees, political parties, civil society
organisations, provincial, district and commune officials and police and
security agencies, in a respectful, frank, open and constructive dialogue,
to identify problems or issues that might cause conflict in elections and to
address them. COPCEL II will continue until after the July 2008 national
election.
Download minutes and other COPCEL related information here
(click to see page for download)
Link to our networks working on peace building
Back to top
ACT
CWS
WGWR
Youth Resource Development
Program (YRDP)
YFP
CRS
AFSC
Khmer Ahinsa |
