Legal Aid of Cambodia

Transcription

1 Legal Aid of Cambodia Annual Report 2011 No 51 Street 608, PO Box 1197 Sangkat Boeung Kok II, Khan Toulkok Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: (855-23) / Fax: (855-23)

2 Contents Page LAC Mission and Vision... 4 Strategic Objectives... 5 Highlights... 5 LAC Structure... 6 Supervisory Board... 7 Executive Director s Review... 9 Fair and Just trial standards Programs Women s Justice Program Objectives Geographical Scope Outcomes Child Justice Program Objectives Geographical Scope Legal Representation Outcomes Model Court Objectives Legal Representation Outcomes Correction Centre Objectives Legal Representation Outcomes Labour Trafficking Project Geographical Scope Timeline Donor Objectives Outcomes Khmer Rouge Trial

3 Objectives Geographical Scope Cases Open Outcomes Land Law Objectives Geographical Scope Legal Representation Outcomes Administration and Human Resources

4 LAC Mission and Vision Vision A just and fair Cambodian society, where everyone enjoys equal rights before the law. Mission Provide quality legal aid, legal and human rights education/outreach and advocate for the poor in Cambodia in order to ensure access to justice, promote respect of law, human rights and advance legal and judicial reform. LAC believes that:- 1. Justice comes from respect of law 2. Delivering quality legal services contributes to the rule of law 3. Good governance gains greater trust from relevant stakeholders. 4. Through staff commitment, LAC can prove its solidarity to the poor. 4

5 Strategic Objectives 5

6 Highlights KRT represented 1217 civil parties at the Khmer Rouge Trials LAC worked extensively with stakeholders to improve legal education and awareness in all of its programs All programs reported that the vast majority of trials were fair trials, with 93% of trials from the WJP being fair trials. CJP represented 475 children in children who had committed minor offences were diverted from the formal justice system 6

7 LAC Structure Supervisory Board Management Team Executive Director Legal Director Staff Representative Committee Administrative and Human Resources Finance Manager Director s Consultant Land Law Program Child Justice Program Women Justice Program General Legal Aid Project Managers Project Managers Project Managers Project Managers 7

8 Supervisory Board Ms. Chim Manavy, Chair of the Supervisory Board Executive Director, Open Society Institute Address: # 61, Street No 261, Tuol Kok district, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Mobile: ma_chim2002@yahoo.com or ma@open.org.kh Nick Rine Professor, Clinical Law Program Address: University of Michigan Law School 360, Legal Research Bldg Ann Arbor, MI United States of America Mobile: (in Cambodia) Voice Fax nickrine@umich.edu Prof. Sun Channdara Wuddh Executive Director CTC, Professor at RULE, Attorney of Law Address: #32, St.188, Sangkat Phsadepo I, Khan Tuolkok, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Mobile: Fax: Wuddh.win@gmail.com Touch Bora Private lawyer Address: P.O. Box 804 Fairfield NSW 1860, Australia Tel: bora.touch@legalaid.nsw.gov.au Francis James Chief of l'unite Justice Address: Division des Droits de l'homme et Justice, Bureau Integre des Nations Unies au Burundi (BINUB) Mobile Mobile x5205 (NY) james16@un.org or francis.james@undp.org 8

9 Executive Director s Review Dear readers, It is a pleasure to invite you to read the 2011 Annual Report. During 2011, we have continued to provide quality legal aid to those that are unable to afford legal representation and we have persisted in advocating and raising awareness of human rights and the law throughout the community. We recognise however, that our work is far from over and there is still much to be done to improve the rights and living standards of all Cambodians. As an organisation, we strive to continue our mission of providing free, quality legal services to disadvantaged Cambodians. We also are committed to maintaining a significant and permanent presence in rural Cambodia so as to ensure that all of Cambodia can move forward together. Over the course of 2011, LAC has continued to work primarily in the areas of land law, women s rights, child justice and the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. We have also developed and continued to work on smaller projects, including our work at Correction Centre 1 and the Labour Trafficking Project. We invite you to read about all of our projects and accomplishments in full, in this report. We are particularly pleased with the improvements seen within the Child & Women s Justice Program. According to the law all provincial prosecutors, who work on cases are required, to meet with relevant stakeholders each month. LAC has taken this opportunity to place on the agenda issues relating to women and children. This allows stakeholders, including police and judicial officers, to share their concerns and exchange their experiences. This open communication is an excellent sign of an increased awareness of children s rights and will allow us to regularly advocate for a more child-friendly court system, as well as any specific issues facing our clients. Further, after significant and persistent advocacy from LAC, there has been major progress in diverting children away from the formal justice system when they have committed minor offences. Typically, these diversion measures will mean that these children will receive vocational training and be monitored in their communities. We hope and trust that these developments will help lead to a more just and fair Cambodian society, where everyone, regardless of age, has access to equal rights. In 2011, the Khmer Rouge Trials continued to move forward. LAC has provided training to civil parties throughout the country and ensured that they are aware of the current status of the trials and their rights. The trials are extremely important to all Cambodians and we are privileged to be able to assist and 10

10 represent them. We look forward to continuing to represent the civil parties and assist the court throughout the trials. LAC continues to educate members of the community on their rights; be they land rights, human rights or their rights in relation to the Khmer Rouge Trials. This work is crucial, as it ensures that the Cambodian people understand their rights and have the confidence to assert them. It is essential that we continue to provide quality human rights education and outreach programs in the hope of achieving legal and judicial reform. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our supporters, community partners and those with an interest in LAC s work. Without your valued support, LAC would not be able to continue our important work throughout Cambodia. Lastly, I would like to pass on my admiration to all the staff at LAC for their tireless work in achieving our desired outcomes throughout Cambodia. Mr Run Saray Executive Director Legal Aid of Cambodia 11

11 Fair and Just Trial Standards LAC uses the following standards to evaluate if its clients receive fair and just trials. LAC s programs work to promote these standards in order to improve due process. Civil cases: The procedure of the case was conducted properly Criminal cases on behalf of accused: Accused person has the right to: appear before a competent, independent and impartial court be informed of his/her charges inspect the case file legal representation/legal assistance be free from self-incrimination or forced confession have a speedy trial examine witnesses who testify against him/her be presumed innocent until proven guilty call witnesses and present evidence recuse/remove judges whom he/she thinks are biased be equal before the law have a public trial file a motion to suppress evidence appeal against a judgment ask the court to reduce the punishment no double jeopardy ask the high court to review his/her case. fair compensation The procedure of the case was conducted properly where: The client was acquitted and found not guilty whenever that was just; or The client s charge was changed to a lower charge whenever that seemed just; or Mitigating circumstances were taken into consideration in the case when applicable; or The punishment was in accordance with the offence committed by the client and in accordance with the findings of the investigation by the lawyers; or The punishment of the client matched the crime the client were found guilty of; or The client found no reason to appeal. Criminal cases on behalf of the victim: The procedure of the case was conducted properly; Fair compensation was defined as a compensation that is proper compared to the damage; The perpetrators were found guilty and punished accordingly. 12

12 Outcomes 93% of women represented by LAC received a fair and just trial. WJP has invested heavily in training judicial officers in women s rights and Cambodian laws. This has resulted in fairer trials for women over the course of The WJP held bi-monthly meetings in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces, with 85 officials attending each session from the commune, district and province levels. Advocacy was conducted with stakeholders including the police, social affairs officers, prison officers, judicial officers and health department officers. Topics discussed included; reporting women s cases and improving cooperation with stakeholders. These meetings helped to raise awareness of the issues surrounding women in conflict with the law. WJP provided training to 153 participant judicial police officers (21 women) in the provinces. Training was provided to judicial police over four sessions; two in Kampong Thom and two in Banteay Meanchey. Topics included the role of judicial police, discussions of relevant laws, police inquiries and classification of offenses. After the training was conducted, a survey was carried out wherein it was noted that 85% of participants understood the law that had been explained to them in the training sessions. WJP also published the relevant criminal codes and distributed these to the judicial police so as to help them improve their legal knowledge. As a result, judicial police from 50 districts including Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom and Battambang received the relevant codes. Case Study WJP Battambang Province LAC represented two women who were accused of murder. KR and KPY were in a car with five men. The men attacked the driver of the vehicle and the women fled the car. The prosecutor charged KPY and KR under Article 3 of the Law on Aggravating Circumstances for Felonies. KPY and KR were detained under a provisional detention order. The women were not informed that they had a right to a lawyer. The trial judge ordered an interlocutory judgment, which lasted for over 16 months. During this time, the women were detained. At trial, the judge acquitted KPY and KR. This case indicates the challenges that are faced in the judicial process in Cambodia. In this case, there was an abuse of power by the prosecutor and investigating judge. There was no clear timeframe provided for the interlocutory judgment. However, this case also demonstrates that through persistence by dedicated lawyers, fair outcomes can be obtained. 14

13 Objectives Child Justice Program (CJP) Promote awareness of and respect for children s rights, as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, through providing legal aid to children in conflict with the law and child victims of crimes. Geographic Scope Phnom Penh, Kandal, Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Kampong Cham, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Odor Meanchey, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey Mondulkiri. Legal Representation This year the CJP represented 475 clients; children who were either victims of crime or who had been accused of committing a crime Number of cases closed each year Case Outcomes 73 (22%) 9 (3%) 85 (25%) Cases Won Cases Lost (Fair Trial) 166 (50%) Cases Lost (Unfair Trial) Charges dismissed before Trial 16

14 Outcomes The CJP represented 475 children and helped them to achieve more just outcomes in the legal system. CJP represented both child victims and children accused of committing crimes across Cambodia. CJP helped child victims to assert their rights and obtain just results. They also helped children accused of crimes to receive fairer trials, helped those who were innocent to be released and those who had committed crimes to receive sentences that were more appropriate for children. For example, of the 47 cases in Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap in: Nine cases the children were not charged; 13 cases received the benefit of a lesser sentence due to mitigating circumstances; Three cases the charges were reduced; One case LAC filed an appeal; Four cases, the trial was unfair. Through advocacy and working with the legal authorities, CJP also managed to significantly reduce the length of time their juvenile clients were held in pre-trial detention. 18 children who had committed minor offences were diverted from the formal justice system and sent to receive vocational and skills based training. After CJP conducted extensive training with judicial police on children s rights, the judicial police were more willing to use the diversion process; seeing detention as a last resort. These diverted children received vocational training and were monitored in their communities, instead of being imprisoned. Currently, the diversion program is limited to Moung Russey, Battambang city and Battambang province, but it is making very encouraging progress and will hopefully continue to expand in the future, especially as the Juvenile Justice Law takes shape, as discussed below. The diversion program has also been helped by changes in community attitudes towards child offenders. For example, following a number of workshops in Prey Veng Province, there has been a year on year decrease in legal cases involving children, due to local authorities accepting and understanding that informal methods of dealing with petty crimes can be preferable to court. CJP provided legal and physical support, as well as vocational training, to children in prisons across Cambodia. CJP has provided extensive support to children in Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Sway Rieng, Correction Centre 2, Siem Reap, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey prisons. 17

15 CJP provides children with legal support, which includes providing children in pre-trial detention with legal representation, helping convicted children to file an appeal and ensuring that children are released when they have completed their sentence. CJP provides the children with monthly human rights education on their legal rights; such as the right to have a lawyer present during questioning. CJP also provides counselling and helps children whose rights have been violated in prison to assert those rights and to prevent it from happening again. Children in Kratie Prison conducting education on their legal rights CJP provides children with practical physical support including food, clothes, shoes, soap and medicine. CJP has also provided over 50 prison uniforms, as without a uniform, children are not allowed to leave their cells and are unable to wash their clothes. CJP, in partnership with the Sunshine Centre, provides juvenile prisoners with vocational and life skills training. Children receive little or no education while in prison, so this training is crucial for ensuring that when children are released they are able to find work and are at a lower risk of reoffending. CJP also provides other support to children leaving prison. This includes providing them with transport back to their home villages and providing their families with food and training to ease the transition. In some cases, CJP are also able to provide children with bicycles or other means of transport so they are able to go to school. CJP provided extensive community legal education on the rights of women and children, which helped to protect children s rights and reduce incidences of domestic violence. CJP met with thousands of different community members and leaders and provided them with training on the rights of women and children, as well as capacity building on how to protect those rights. There was a particular focus on working with the village chiefs, Commune Committees for Women and Children (CCWC) and the District Committees for Women and Children (DCWC) in CJP s target communes. 18

16 The CCWC representatives noted that there was a dramatic reduction in incidences of domestic violence in their villages after CJP conducted training on the rights of women, as well as a 97% reduction in the number of families gambling in the Chrey Commune (Prey Veng), as they instead took care of their children. It was also noted that there had been an increased number of children attending school; with parents tending to think about the best interests of their children, rather than sending them to work. There has also been a demonstrated change in the attitudes of those involved with Children who come into conflict with the law. Officials are now showing less negative views towards minors and a greater willingness to protect and support child rights. 80% of professionals receiving training on child rights and the law showed both a good understanding and a willingness to improve their own practices. CJP helped to prevent children at risk from coming into conflict with the law by working with the CCWCs and by creating the Child Network. CJP conducted training with the CCWCs and village leaders during which CJP conducted training on how to identify children at risk of committing crimes due to poverty, drug addiction, family violence or friendship with local gangs. The CCWCs would then bring these children to CJP s attention and CJP, in conjunction with the CCWC, would provide these children with support so that they could resume their studies or be rehabilitated from their drug addiction. Last year, the CCWC in Prey Veng identified 15 serious cases where children had already or were at risk of conflicting with the law and brought a total of 39 children back into the school system. CJP, in conjunction with the CCWC, also created the Child Network which is a network of children who are trained to support their peers Ms Mealea conducting awareness raising on domestic violence in Battambang Province Case Study: Battambang Province NB is a 15 year old boy who lives in Ra Village in the Moung Commune. NB s father died when he was four months old and since then his mother has struggled to support him, his two brothers and sister because she lost one of her hands in a landmine blast. NB s family do not have a house or land, and instead his family live with his aunt. When he was 14, NB had already dropped out of school, was gambling regularly and hanging out with a violent crowd. Because of this the chief of NB s village determined that he was likely to come into conflict with the law and so she recommended that NB be allowed to join the Children Network. CJP worked with NB after he joined the Children Network and he very rapidly turned his life around. He became a leader of the Children Network and decided he wanted to go back to school. CJP and the CCWC helped ensure that NB could go back to school by talking to the school and providing him with school materials, a uniform and a bicycle (so he could ride to the school which was quite far away). NB is now in 7 th Grade and is enjoying being back at school and continuing his studies. and encourage them to continue their education and not commit crimes. They also act as child representatives on their local CCWC and help the committee to identify children at risk and what needs to be done to help them. Also, in Prey Veng and Svay Rieng, child-led Youth Councils 19

17 implemented outreach programs and prison visits, to further support child rights and educate their peers. The Child Network has been a great success in empowering young people to not commit crimes, continue their schooling and to feel that they have a voice and are represented in community decision making. CJP conducted a fortnightly radio talk show which provides legal education and allows people to call in and ask about their legal concerns. CJP conducts regular radio talk show in Kampong Cham, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Siem Reap provinces. The show discusses topics such as children s rights, the Cambodian court system and laws with regard to children in Cambodia. The second half of the program is a call-in segment where members of the community can call and ask questions. This has helped to educate the community about the rights of children in the Cambodian court system and how to handle any legal issues they may have. CJP conducted meetings with senior court and government officials to advocate for a more child friendly justice system and to raise particular issues facing their clients. CJP met regularly with prosecutors, court officials, senior police officers as well as representatives from the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. At these meetings, CJP advocated for a more child friendly court system and advised officials on how to address specific issues that arise with regard to children in conflict with the law. CJP has worked with other NGOs and government representatives to help draft and develop a Juvenile Justice Law that meets international standards. Through national workshops and field visits, CJP and other stakeholders have demonstrated the need for a legal framework to protect Child Rights, as well as shaped the content of the new laws being drafted as a result. Once the current draft is approved, this law will be sent to the National Assembly to be adopted. Officials have shown a definite focus on implementing formal compromises to divert children charged with minor crimes away from the courts, as well as adding non-custodial sentences for minors in certain circumstances. All of the CJP s target communes in Battambang province received awards from the provincial government for being very safe communes. These awards recognise very low rates of crime, drug use and school dropouts, as well as the high level of safety in the commune. 20 A meeting with the CCWC, local police and representatives of the Children Network in Moung Commune.

18 General Legal Aid Model Court: Kandal Province and Banteay Meanchey (MCP) Objectives Increase access to justice for poor Cambodians through improving the functioning of the judicial system in the context of specific prisons and courts. Geographic Scope Kandal and Banteay Meanchey Legal Representation The key aim of the Model Court Project is to provide legal aid to those who cannot afford it. This year the Model Court Project represented 277 clients in court, of which 233 were male, 23 were female and 21 were juveniles Cases Open Cases Closed 20 11% 16 8% Case Outcomes 50 26% Cases Won Cases Lost (Fair Trial) % Cases Lost (Unfair Trial) Dismissed before Trial 21

19 Outcomes MCP met regularly with the Court President and Prosecutor at Banteay Meanchey to progress cases that were delayed, to ensure that the court respected prisoners rights and that the correct procedures were followed. MCP saw significant improvements due to these meetings and their other advocacy work. Cases moved at a faster speed, accused were not held in indefinite detention, detainees were not verbally abused and prisoners were released as soon as their period of detention ended. MCP conducted meetings with prison officers in order to ascertain whether prisoners had legal representation and to monitor the living conditions of detainees. MCP conducted advocacy with court and prison officers on detainees rights and their rights during the criminal process. As a result of this advocacy, the new prosecutor in Banteay Meanchey recognized that the prosecutor group was regularly taking more than a year to make a written record and that this violated Article 242 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The prosecutors promised to review this issue and speed up the process. Across the board, detainees rights were seen to be much better respected, especially in relation to detention and providing them with information on their trial. MCP worked regularly with other NGOs to help increase cooperation. These NGOs also requested that LAC take on cases. LAC cooperated with Vigilance, Adhoc, Liacdho and UNOCHR which are all NGOs located in Kandal and Banteay Meanchey. Vigilance requested that LAC take on around 20 cases, the UNOCHR requested 5 cases, ADHOC requested 2 cases and Licadho requested 3 cases. A lawyer investigating a client's matter 22

20 Correction Centre 1 (CC1) Objectives To ensure that detainees in Correction Centre 1 Prison, who are waiting for an excessive period of time for the Appeal Court s hearings, receive legal aid and access to a speedier trial. To monitor the status of accused prisoners in CC1 and record findings in the LAC database for advocacy purposes. Legal Representation The CC1 Project provides Legal Aid to those imprisoned in Correction Centre 1. This year the CC1 project handled 145 cases, 28 of which remained open at the end of the year, Of the 117 cases closed, 69% resulted in a fair trial outcome. Number of Cases Cases Open Cases Closed Case Outcomes 31% 31% 38% Cases Won Cases Lost (Fair Trial) Cases Lost (Unfair Trial) Outcomes The CC1 Project provided legal representation and advice to over 117 prisoners. This helped to ensure that detainee rights were upheld and access to justice was realized through the fundamental right to a speedy trial and not being placed in excessive detention. 23

21 The CC1 Project cooperated with the Appeal court and the Ministry of Justice to make them aware that in any appeal case for a prisoner at CC1, LAC can provide pro bono legal advice. The President, judges and clerks in the Appeal Court were very pleased with this, as the lack of legal representation available to detainees often caused court hearings to be delayed and excessive detention. The CC1 Project also regularly monitors the standards of detention and provides counselling. The CC1 Project regularly monitored the length of detention and living conditions of those detained in CC1 in order to prevent periods of excessive detention. The CC1 Project also provided counselling to their clients and to the family members of detainees The CC1 Project encountered significant difficulties with the Appeal Court. For example, the court failed to notify detainees when their appeal trial had started. Difficulties were also experienced in trying to locate case numbers and case files in order to appeal. The CC1 Project has worked extensively with the Court President and officials, as well as prison staff, to advocate for these issues to be corrected. In the coming year, The CC1 Project will continue to advocate for this situation to improve. Case Study: CC1 Project On the 6 th of September 2009 RTN (our client) and his friends stole a handbag from a traveler. Because they stole the bag in a group, RTN was charged with robbery under Article 6 of the Law on Aggravating Circumstances, which carries a much more severe penalty than theft. RTN asked LAC to represent him and to appeal his case. The CC1 Project took on the task. The lawyers from the CC1 Project collected evidence from RTN s life such as his birth record, his family circumstances and the fact that he was attending university. They then applied for mitigating circumstances. On the 11 th of August 2011, the trial judge ruled that RTN s claim was correct and that mitigating circumstances did apply. Consequently, the judge significantly reduced the charges against RTN and charged him with the lesser penalty of theft. 24

22 Labour Trafficking Project (LTP) Geographic Scope Phnom Penh, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Svay Rieng, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Siem Reap, Kandal, Sihanoukville and Koh Kong. Timeline November 2010 to August Donor The Asia Foundation through USAID. Objectives In response to the growing problem of labour trafficking in Cambodia, LAC developed the Labour Trafficking Project. The project worked towards increasing the accountability of the Cambodian judiciary and government to trafficking victims. LAC did this by fostering collaboration and cooperative advocacy efforts amongst civil society, providing free legal representation and consultation to trafficking victims and training the judiciary and relevant government actors on legal issues related to trafficking. The project was finished at the end of its intended timeframe in August Outcomes LTP represented victims in 4 cases of labour trafficking. LTP conducted a National Workshop. This national workshop included members of the Provincial Committee to Lead to the Suppression of Human Trafficking, Smuggling, Labour Exploitation and Sexual Exploitation of Women and Children; representatives of the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice; judicial officers and nongovernmental organizations. The national workshop compiled recommendations from different stakeholders on ways to protect victims of labour trafficking and how to combat perpetrators of labour trafficking, both inside and outside Cambodia. The national workshop also helped to strengthen the working relationship between the government sector, the non-government sector and the judiciary. LTP held a meeting for legal practitioners around Cambodia. This meeting brought together over 250 stakeholders including lawyers for NGOs, the Bar Association of Cambodia and representatives of the Ministry of Women s Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs. Information was shared regarding the challenges the legal service 25

23 providers have found in working for the victims of labour trafficking. Discussion focused on the best legal instruments and strategies available to protect victims of labour trafficking. The meeting also helped to establish networks for all legal service providers to share information. LTP conducted 10 provincial meetings. These meetings were held with village, commune and district leaders. They helped to raise local awareness of laws with regard to labour trafficking and the rights of victims. These meetings also helped to collect information regarding labour trafficking cases and information on migrant workers. This helped to protect people who may have potentially been trafficked. 26

24 Objectives Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT) Promote accountability of former Khmer Rouge leaders through representing victims of the regime before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC also called Khmer Rouge Tribunal). Geographic Scope All provinces in Cambodia. Cases Opened Criminal case file No. 002/ ECCC against Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith. Clients represented LAC has represented 1217 clients in the trials. 27

25 Land Law Program (LLP) Objectives Provide access to legal aid and training to poor and indigenous groups involved in land disputes in order to help them retain their land and protect it for the future. Geographic Scope All Cambodian Provinces. Legal Representation LLP has provided legal services to 7,020 clients during Number of hectares under dispute in Hectares under dispute which is being resolved through ADR Hectares under dispute within the court system Outcomes LLP represented 7,020 people in 78 cases in LLP provided legal representation to 1,070 families in all of their target provinces. LLP organized 6 training sessions in the provinces with 120 participants. Training was provided on general land law issues, indigenous human rights and complaint filing. Staff also taught communities how to define the boundary of their village. Prior to the project commencing in Ratankiri, Mondulkiri and Kratie, the Indigenous people were not aware of their rights or the relevant laws. LAC staff also taught community members how to advocate against companies. 30

26 LLP organized 3 workshops with 249 participants. LLP staff organized a workshop on land conflict resolution and land registration. 62 participants participated in the workshop from a wide variety of provinces. Government authorities, non government organization partners and commune councils were all in attendance. LLP organized, in conjunction with ADHOC, a number of workshops. These included topics such as land rights and natural resources. Participants were from villages, NGO partners and relevant authorities. LLP organized two partner meetings with NGO partners. LLP also met with NGO partners in order to share experiences and to explain results and challenges they had encountered. This collaboration with other NGOs is helpful in reaching the best possible outcome. LLP held 20 advocacy sessions with the authorities in a wide variety of districts. These advocacy sessions target awareness raising amongst the authorities and increasing their knowledge on both laws and difficulties faced in the communities. Case Study There was a land dispute case over the boundary between Chet village and Des village which had been ongoing for the last two years. Both villages filed a complaint to their own authorities. There were a number of attempts to resolve the land issue both with and without court involvement without success. Meeting with local community On 18 September 2011, the Land Cadastral Office invited both of the villages for a meeting to solve the land issue. LAC attended this meeting, acting as mediator. It was decided as a result of the meeting that both the Chet and Des Villages were able to use the land. This was decided on the condition that if Des Villagers wanted to sell the land, they would need to prepare a legal document issued by the authorities of Chet Village and vice versa. Both villages will be bordered by the Cadastral Land Office in the future. 31

27 Administration and Human Resources Staff Employed at LAC LAC is proud to currently employ 81 staff including 28 lawyers. Male:Female Staff Ratio 33 41% 48 59% male female Staff recruited in 2011 In 2011 LAC recruited 19 staff comprising: 3 lawyers, 1 investigator, 1 data entry clerk, 1 office assistant and 2 child rights advocates to work in the Child Justice Program 3 lawyers and 2 investigators to work in the Land Law Program 2 lawyers to work on the Model Court Project 1 legal assistant to work with the Khmer Rouge Tribunal 2 accounting clerks to work with the finance unit 1 receptionist Rotations, Promotions and Resignations LAC strives to develop the capacity of its people and in 2011, 11 staff received promotions and eight were rotated within LAC to broaden their experience and respond to program demands. During 2011, eleven people left LAC either due to resignation or the completion of their project. Volunteers LAC has been very pleased to be supported by many skilled volunteers during the last year. 15 Cambodian and 12 foreign volunteers have significantly contributed to the work of LAC in