REPORT PHNOM PENH OFFICE. KH/2016/RP/73 Phnom Penh, November 2016 Original: English

Transcription

1 REPORT PHNOM PENH OFFICE KH/2016/RP/73 Phnom Penh, November 2016 Original: English

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3 REPORT PHNOM PENH OFFICE

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS

5 01. Foreword 04. UNESCO in Cambodia Today 12. Education 26. Natural Sciences 36. Culture 48. Communication and Information 56. The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO 58. UNESCO Staff Members 62. Glossary

6 FOREWORD

7 2 The year 2015 saw the closure of the MDG era and ushered in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs articulate our shared vision for the world and its inhabitants, and will act as a blueprint for all our developmental initiatives, offering insight and coherence to the work we do. It is a great pleasure for me to share with you the report of the UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh for the biennium. UNESCO continued its successful collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia, national institutions and civil society organizations in all its fields of competence namely, Education, Culture, Natural Sciences, and Communication and Information to support and provide the foundations to realize Cambodia s aspirations in becoming an upper-middle income country by Starting with Education, the 2015 was the year to celebrate the tremendous overall progress and the achievement by Cambodia of the MDG 2 related to Universal Primary Education and the six Education for All Goals. During 2015, Cambodia was actively engaged with UNESCO which led regional and international processes in defining and finalizing the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Education, recognizing the issues of equity, inclusion, quality and lifelong learning to be considered for Cambodia s 2030 education agenda. Amongst major efforts, UNESCO supported the successful implementation of the National Literacy Campaign 2015, enabling over 66,000 adults mainly women to become literate. Another notable achievement is the successful formulation and adoption by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports of the Teacher Policy Action Plan, which has become one of the key reform priority to improve overall quality of teaching and learning in Cambodia in coming years. In the field of culture, as a result of both rigorous efforts and fortuity, there have been a series of restitutions of Angkorian masterpieces from prestigious American and British museums and auction houses. The return of six extraordinary pieces constitute an exemplary ethical gesture

8 3 from these institutions and has set a standard for other returns. An exhibition organized at the National Museum in October 2014 showcased the restituted pieces and was inaugurated by H.E. Sok An, Deputy Prime- Minister and President of the Cambodian National Commission to UNESCO. In the field of communication and information, the biennium has been marked by the launching of exciting and significant new initiatives. In 2014, UNESCO launched a participatory law-making process in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and representatives of the civil society for the drafting of an Access to Information Law. This project which is supported by the Government of Sweden aims to create a strong foundation for Cambodia s efforts towards openness, accountability and democratic governance. In 2015, UNESCO started a project on the digitalization and preservation of the Tuol Sleng archives supported by KOICA. The Tuol Sleng archives were registered as world documentary heritage under the Memory of the World programme in 2009, and are integral to the memory of the Cambodian people. The Natural Sciences team has concentrated its efforts on the promotion of biodiversity by developing a biodiversity toolkit as well as by publishing a richly illustrated book for teenagers on the four main ecosystems in Cambodia. A cartoon made within the framework of the anti-plastic bag campaign resulted in resounding success. We recognize that these achievements would not have been possible without the cooperation of all our active partners from civil society, UN agencies, donors, and the Royal Government of Cambodia. Lastly, I congratulate my UNESCO colleagues who have worked with persistence and integrity to help secure a brighter future for Cambodia and its people. Anne Lemaistre UNESCO Representative in Cambodia

9 UNESCO in CAMBODIA TODAY

10 5 UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was established in November 1945, at a time when the world had experienced two devastating wars. UNESCO foundations were rooted in the concerns of the time. Through this specialized UN agency, we aim to build peace and security among nations through all its fields of competence: Education, Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information. UNESCO VISION To build peace in the minds of people by contributing to peace and security in the world and promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture, communication and information. UNESCO S MISSION STATEMENT As a specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO pursuant to its Constitution contributes to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, and sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. MEDIUM-TERM STRATEGY Overarching objectives: Global priorities: Peace, Equitable and Sustainable Development Africa Responding to Post-Conflict and Post-Disaster Situations Gender equality Strategic objectives: SO 1: Supporting Member States to develop education systems to foster high-quality and inclusive lifelong learning for all SO 2: Empowering learners to be creative and responsible global citizens SO 3: Advancing Education for All (EFA) and shaping the future international education agenda SO 4: Strengthening science, technology and innovation systems and policies nationally, regionally and globally SO 5: Promoting international scientific cooperation on critical challenges to sustainable development SO 6: Supporting inclusive social development, fostering intercultural dialogue for the rapprochement of cultures and promoting ethical principles SO 7: Protecting, promoting and transmitting heritage SO 8: Fostering creativity and the diversity of cultural expressions SO 9: Promoting freedom of expression, media development and access to information and knowledge

11 6 UNESCO PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS To fulfil its mandate, UNESCO performs five principal functions within its spheres of competence: (a) Serving as a laboratory of ideas and generating innovative proposals and policy advice in its fields of competence; (b) Developing and reinforcing the global agenda in its fields of competence through policy analysis, monitoring and benchmarking; (c) Setting norms and standards in its fields of competence and supporting and monitoring their implementation; (d) Strengthening international and regional cooperation in its fields of competence, and fostering alliances, intellectual cooperation, knowledgesharing and operational partnerships; (e) Providing advice for policy development and implementation, and developing institutional and human capacities. UNESCO PRINCIPLES UNESCO is working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture. This role is critical, particularly in the face of terrorism, which constitutes an attack against humanity. The world urgently requires global visions of sustainable development based upon observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which lie at the heart of UNESCO s mission and activities. OVERALL STRATEGY OF THE UNESCO OFFICE IN PHNOM PENH 1. Design and implement programmes and projects contributing to the strategic objectives of UNESCO in the country. 2. Develop projects, raise funds and implement the projects in the areas of competence of the Office to reinforce programme activities. 3. Promote and enhance partnerships and networks for disseminating and sharing information and ideas with the stakeholders in the country.

12 7 4. Enhance the capacity of the staff for strategic planning and management of the programmes and projects for delivering results in the country. 5. Position the environment of the Office for efficient and effective delivery of programmes and projects in the country. 6. Expand knowledge management of the Office to facilitate decision making and problem solving by the staff for the delivery of results. CORE VALUES OF THE UNESCO STAFF Commitment to the Organization Integrity Respect for Diversity Professionalism UNESCO is not a funding agency but provides technical and advisory services. Therefore, UNESCO s strategies focus on catalytic actions that mobilize international and national support through extra-budgetary funding, (particularly donor countries under funds-in-trust agreements).

13 8 UNESCO PHNOM PENH IN NUMBERS Extrabudgetary contributions by donors (in USD) GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION 5% UNAIDS 2% WORLD HERITAGE FUND 3% Private sector KOBI GRAPHIS Co., LTD 1% MALAYSIA 1% SIDA 13% AZERBAIJAN-DANIDA- FINLAND-NORWAY-SIDA 30% KOICA 9% JAPAN 33% Extrabudgetary project by Unit Education 39% Natural Science 3% FLANDERS 1% FRANCE 2% I TALY 0.18% Communication and Information 22% Culture 36%

14 SIDA Sources of Funds Project Description Working Towards an Access to Information Law in Cambodia: Bridging the Government and Citizens for Participatory Law-making Allocation Total Allocation of Project 9 Valid 377,793 1,386, KOICA Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Project 252,000 1,150, WORLD HERITAGE FUND FLANDERS FRANCE Ch.3: EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE temple of Preah Vihear CENTENARY OF WWI and its Underwater Cultural Heritage - Exhibit on African and Asian Involvement Comité international de coordination pour la sauveguarde et le développement du site historique d Angkor. 72,922 72, ,032 49, , , ITALY Safeguarding of the Angkor Wat Temple - Phase II 5, , JAPAN JAPAN JAPAN Private sector KOBI GRAPHIS Co., LTD JAPAN UNAIDS Safeguarding of the Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom, 4 th phase of the UNESCO /JASA Project International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC-Angkor) Assistance to World Heritage Site Museums for a better Interpretation of Living Heritage Sites in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam The 1 st Asia Regional World Heritage Youth Forum Project Reorienting Quality Teacher Education towards EFA and ESD, Phase 3 UNAIDS/UBRAF HIV and Health activities in Asia-Pacific Region 703,258 2,500, ,000 66, ,800 55, ,011 40, ,000 10, ,512 75, AZERBAIJAN-DANIDA- FINLAND-NORWAY- Capacity development for Education for All 849,400 2,100, SIDA JAPAN Education for Sustainable Development - Building Momentum towards 2014 GLOBAL PARTNER- Supporting Development of Education Strategic SHIP FOR EDUCATION Plan JAPAN MALAYSIA JAPAN Angkor World Heritage Site and Siem Reap Water Systems Angkor World Heritage Site and Siem Reap Water Systems The 8 th Southeast Asia Biosphere Reserve Network (SeaBRnet) & 2nd Asia-Pacific Biophere Reserves Network (APBRN) 59,750 59, , , ,600 63, ,900 63, ,677 42, TOTAL: 2,820,946 8,390,235

15 10 Representatives of 37 countries met in London to sign UNESCO s Constitution which came into force on 4 November 1946 after ratification by 20 signatories. UNESCO recommends that Member States make free primary education compulsory and universal. An intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO adopts the Universal Copyright Convention. In the decades following World War II, the Convention served to extend copyright protection to numerous states not yet party to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886). The Republic of South Africa withdrew from UNESCO claiming that some of the Organization s publications amount to interference in the country s racial problems. The state rejoined the Organization in 1994 under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. Inauguration of UNESCO s permanent Headquarters in Paris designed by Marcel Breuer (US), Pier-Luigi Nervi (Italy) and Bernard Zehrfuss (France). Launching of the Nubia Campaign in Egypt to move the Great Temple of Abu Simbel to keep it from being swamped by the Nile after construction of the Aswan Dam. During the 20 year campaign, 22 monuments and architectural complexes are relocated. This was the first and largest in a series of campaigns including Moenjodaro (Pakistan), Fez (Morocco), Kathmandu (Nepal), Borobudur (Indonesia) and the Acropolis (Greece). 16 November The World Conference on Education for All, in Jomtiem, Thailand, launches a global movement to provide basic education for all children, youth and adults. Held ten years later in Dakar, Senegal, the World Education Forum committed governments to achieving basic education for all by Creation of the Memory of the World programme to protect irreplaceable library treasures and archive collections. It now includes sound, film and television archives. The United Kingdom returns to UNESCO. The Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, adopted by UNESCO in 1997, and endorsed by the UN. Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura undertakes major reforms to restructure and decentralize the Organization s staff and activities. UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity adopted by the General Conference. United States returns to UNESCO.

16 UNESCO organizes the first intergovernmental conference aimed at reconciling the environment and development, now known as sustainable development. This led to the creation of UNESCO s Man and the Biosphere Programme. The Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted. The World Heritage Committee was established in 1976 and the first sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List in History: Key Milestones from 70 Years of UNESCO Existence H.H. Pope Paul VI awarded the John XXIII Peace Prize to UNESCO. The United Nations University was established in Tokyo under the auspices of the UN and UNESCO. UNESCO adopts the Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice. Subsequent reports on the issue by the Director-General served to discredit and dismiss the pseudo-scientific foundations of racism. The first two volumes of UNESCO s General History of Africa were published. Similar series focused on other regions, notably Central Asia and the Caribbean. United States withdraws from the Organization citing disagreement over management and other issues. The United Kingdom and Singapore withdraw in The Organization s budget drops considerably November Brunei Darussalam becomes UNESCO s 191 st Member State. Montenegro Singapore returns becomes UNESCO s to UNESCO as the the 192 nd Member 193 rd Member State. State. Ms. Irina Bokova becomes the first woman Director- General of UNESCO. South Sudan and Palestine become UNESCO s 194 th and 195 th members. Ms. Irina Bokova is re-elected as Director-General of UNESCO. 70 th Anniversary of UNESCO

17 EDUCATION

18 education 13 UNESCO s work in Education in Cambodia in focused on: i. Strengthening institutional capacities of the government and non-governmental institutions and technical capacities of the senior and technical officials to improve equitable access to quality teaching and learning opportunities for all through formal and non-formal education. ii. Facilitating coordination and dialogue between international and national development partners and with the government to improve overall support to the education sector. It also included rallying the national and international partners/stakeholders in the advocacy efforts for equity and opportunity for quality education for all, through the celebration of national and international days/events. Key actions and results in STRENGTHENING TEACHER EDUCATION IN CAMBODIA The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) was provided technical and financial support in developing and finalizing the Teacher Policy Action Plan (TPAP). The TPAP addresses the issues of recruitment, retention, benefits and teacher professional development and support. As part of the operationalization of the TPAP, the Royal University of Phnom Penh was supported to conduct the study Opportunities and challenges for in-service qualification upgrade of tea-chers in Cambodia. The study identified keen demand among teachers for in-service model and opportunity to upgrade their qualifications. Informed by this study, UNESCO is supporting to design an inservice qualifications upgrade model for Primary Teachers in Cambodia to enable them to acquire upper-secondary (Grade 12) certification. The program aims to support teachers in contiuing professional development to meet the Ministry policy objective of upgrading all teachers to Bachelors level by LITERACY AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION National Literacy Campaign 2015 UNESCO is the only multi-lateral development partner supporting literacy and Non- Formal Education in Cambodia, through its Capacity Development for Education for All (CapEFA) programme. While Cambodia is committed to achieve the Education for All goals by 2015, the literacy goal would have been missed if current trends would have continued. The literacy target for Cambodia was 84.4%, but, the projection prepared by UNESCO informed that the country would have achieved a literacy rate of 78.2% in year 2015 if the current trend continued. Cambodia s literacy

19 14 education challenges also include disparities in literacy rates among age and gender groups (85.1% among males and 70.9% among females), between urban and rural populations (90.4% and 74% respectively), and among ethnic minorities and those who are most marginalized. In order to reverse the trend, the Department of Non- Formal Education (DNFE) was supported to develop a Country Literacy Acceleration Plan (CLAP). The plan identified clear priorities and strategies specifically targeted to reach marginalized groups to accelerate literacy improvements in Cambodia towards achieving 2015 Education For All literacy goal. Representatives from all provincial and district education offices participated in several UNESCO supported capacity building trainings on evidence-based analysis and planning with clear priorities, realistic costing, efficient use of existing resources and mobilization of partnerships. The CLAP facilitated the design of National Literacy Campaign 2015 (NLC). The NLC became a key lever in mobilizing Ministry leadership s commitments and efforts as well as government funds to operationalize the Country Literacy Acceleration Plan. The Campaign enabled the Ministry together with its partners such as the Ministry of Women s Affairs and other NGOs to triple the efforts in implementing literacy interventions enrolling 74,899 illiterate adults. To operate the literacy classes 660 literacy teacher trainers, 3,427 literacy teachers and facilitators were trained. In total, 53,996 (72% female) illiterate adults successfully completed the programme, of which 1% included illiterate female garment factory workers. A steering committee for the management and implementation of

20 education the NLC was created and chaired by His Excellency Minister of Education Youth and Sport. Further, UNESCO works in close partnership with the Ministry to mobilize resource from other stakeholders to raise awareness on literacy programme and to promote in particular the 2015 National Literacy Campaign. For example, Raksmey Hang Meas, the media company, produced a Television Commercial to celebrate the International Literacy Day 2014, SMART Axiata, the telecom com- 15

21 16 education pany, supported the awareness raising for NLC 2015, all year long. Revised National Curriculum for Literacy The MoEYS literacy curriculum was developed in 1996/97. Since then significant changes and developments have taken place in Cambodia, in the region and globally. In line with the ongoing curriculum reform initiated by the Minister, it was agreed with the MoEYS to review and revise the literacy curriculum with UNESCO support. To guide the review and revision process the Joint Technical Literacy Team composed of membership from technical departments of the MoEYS and line ministries, such as Departments of School Health, Primary Education and Curriculum Development, Ministry of Cults and Religion, Ministry of Women s Affairs was established. UNESCO provided technical as well as financial assistance for the entire process. The revised curriculum is currently under final review and adoption.

22 education 17 Community Learning Centres To strengthen the management of the Community Learning Centres (CLC) UNESCO supported the development of CLC Management Manual. The Manual was piloted in 3 CLCs: Siem Reap, Kampong Cham and Battambang. The CLC Management Committee members were trained at their workplace on the application of the Manual. As a result, they are able to develop their CLC Project Development Plan (PDP) based on the community needs. The three CLC Management Committees shared their experiences with other CLC Management Committees from 8 provinces. The Department of Non-Formal Education (DNFE) mobilized the Capacity Development Partnership Fund (CDPF) to expand the training to other provinces. Further UNESCO engaged the NGO Education Partnership (NEP) and its member NGOs to use this Manual in their respective programs in different provinces, instead of developing new ones. In addition, to support the Ministry leadership in improving the management of CLC, NEP was supported to conduct a study on the CLC financial disbursement from national to local levels. The study results showed different practical modalities applied by different provinces that lead to under-utilization of budget and inefficiency of programme implementation by the CLCs. One of the key recommendations is that total budget for CLC should be transferred only once at the beginning directly to the CLC bank account. This is considered to be useful as the Ministry endorsed in 2015 a Prakas on the CLC Management Standard so that CLC will have full authority of managing their own programme. Non-Formal Education Management Information System A number of training workshops were organized for technical staff at central and provincial levels on data collection and data management based on updated Non-Formal Education Management Information System (NFE-MIS) application software created with the support of UNESCO and now managed by the Department of Non Formal Education (DNFE). In mid- 2015, another three-day training was organized for technical staff from the central departments and from provinces, facilitated by UNESCO Bangkok Office to provide a more in-depth knowledge of NFE data and indicators, and to review the NFE Data Analysis Report 2014 developed by DNFE. The team shared their knowledge with other provincial NFE colleagues through several workshops in October and November 2015 by using Government fund. Overall, five provinces, Kampong Speu, Battambang, Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk and Kampong Chhnang managed to use the NFE-MIS and developed their own NFE report in In 2015, additional five provinces, Takeo, Kampot, Prey Veng, Banteay Meanchey, and Kep developed their report based on the NFE-MIS.

23 18 education Basic Education Equivalency Programme One of the biggest challenges of the Cambodian education sector is low transition from primary to lower secondary and high drop-out rates in the lower-secondary levels. To address this challenge, UNESCO is supporting the development of an alternative flexible learning program that enables the out of school learners to continue their education. The programme aims to develop a certified and recognized curriculum with supporting learning modules that enables drop- out learners at lower secondary education to continue their education toward higher level or to technical and vocational education programme. A technical team representing the MoEYS, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT) and NGOs was supported by UNESCO to participate in the Regional Planning Workshop for Flexible Learning Strategy in Bangkok in The initial ideas and draft proposal have been discussed and agreed with the team as well as with the middle management level of the two Ministries, i.e. MoLVT and MoEYS. In addition, the Inter- Ministerial Committee (IMC) of the two Ministries has recently been created by the Government which will guide development and piloting of this program. PROMOTING GENDER EQUITY AND EQUALITY UNESCO supports the national counterparts in their work towards achieving the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals of promoting gender equality, empowering women, and prioritizing gender as a cross-cutting issues. In doing so UNESCO supported review and drafting of the Education and Training chapter of the Neary Rattanak IV (Royal Government s Gender Mainstreaming Action Plan ) in close coordination with the MoEYS, UNICEF and Ministry of Woman Affairs (MoWA). Further, in close collaboration with MoWA and the Non-Formal Education Department of MoEYS, UNESCO is supporting promotion of women participation and empowerment through basic literacy classes for illiterate women in rural areas to acquire literacy and life skills.

24 education 19 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ESD helps people to develop the attitudes, skills and knowledge to make informed decisions for the benefit of themselves and others, now and in the future, and to act upon these decisions. The National Institute of Education (NIE) was provided technical and financial support and has successfully reviewed the Teacher Training Curriculum and deve-loped guidelines for introduction of ESD concepts and practices in different subject areas. These guidelines have been introduced in the pre-service teacher training curriculum. In addition, NIE continues the ESD and World Heritage Education as part of its pre-service teachers training curriculum. HIGHER EDUCATION Promoting Quality Assurance in Higher Education Higher Education has expanded rapidly in Cambodia over the last five years, particularly the private institutions. There is a growing realization among the government policy-makers, development partners and the employment sector that the quality of the higher education subsector while expanding quantitatively, remains poor. Some of the pressing issues identified are inefficient/ineffective management of higher education institutions, lack of legal instruments or poor implementation of the existing ones to govern the institutions, little technical and professional qualifications of the academic staff and research facilities, resulting in production of graduates whose competence (knowledge, skills and behaviors) continuously remain below the employment requirements and irrelevant to the market needs. To address these issues, the MoEYS has embarked upon a systemic reform of the higher-education sub-sector with a Higher Education Vision 2030, Education Strategic Plan and policy paper on higher education which aim to improve the overall governance and leadership of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC) has been brought under the MoEYS to further strengthen accreditation of the HEIs and to ensure quality assurance of educational standards. During the biennium, UNESCO supported training of 15 HEIs in the application of the ACC guidelines and standards for internal quality assessments as well as the training of the ACC s external assessors. Following the training workshop, the 15 HEIs

25 20 education are expected to develop their institutional Self-Assessment Reports and submit to ACC in the coming year. During the period, the ACC will be supported to conduct training for the additional 15 HEIs and follow-up on the analysis and feedback on the self-assessment reports received from the 15 HEIs trained in Promoting Education Research: Cambodia Education Research Forum To build an enabling environment in the education sector and to promote and strengthen the research capacities of universities and institutes, UNESCO assisted the MoEYS in developing the Education Research Policy since 2009, aiming to provide a guideline for educational research, in particular at the tertiary level, and to produce a common tool to conduct and monitor research activities and to create a more enabling environment for research. Further UNESCO supported the Cambodian Higher Education Association (CHEA) to establish and organize the first Cambodia Education Research Forum (CERF) from February 2014 and the second CERF from December The CHEA is an umbrella organization of private HEIs in Cambodia to pursue the common interest of enhancing quality and excellence in higher education in the country and in the region. The CERF has close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, development partners and the private sector. The Cambodia Education Research Forum (CERF) provided valuable platform to bring together higher education students, researchers and the practitioners to share their research and learn from the research experiences and findings of their peers and experts. The CERF brought together institutions engaged in conducting and promoting education research in Cambodia and also aimed to bring international experts from the region and beyond. The compendium of the research presented at the Forum was disseminated widely and made available electronically to the public to promote research and dialogue. Inaugurating the second forum, the Minister of Education agreed to the recommendation to make CERF an annual research platform with technical and financial support from governmental and non-governmental organizations, development partners and the private sector. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2030: SDG GOAL 4 EDUCATION 2030 UNESCO supported the Cambodian high level delegation led by the Minister of Education Youth and Sport to join the World Education Forum (WEF) 2015, held in May 2015 in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The Forum aimed to: (i) Take stock of achievements and shortfalls in the implementa-

26 education 21 tion of the Education for All goals and education-related Millennium Development Goals, (ii). Agree on a joint position for the education goal and targets in the post-2015 development agenda, which has been adopted by UN Member States at a Summit in September 2015 in New York City, and (iii) Plan the way for the implementation of the post-2015 education agenda through a Framework for Action. The Incheon Declaration reflecting the new Education 2030 agenda focusing on Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunity for all has been adopted. UNESCO suppoted MoEYS leadership team to attend the Asia-Pacific Meeting on Education 2030 (APMED2030) in November 2015 in Bangkok. The Meeting aimed to build common understanding of Member States on Education the 2030 Framework for Action and the way to translate them into practice at global, regional and national levels. In the Meeting, Member States were grouped by country and by region to discuss strategies to support the implementation of the Education 2030 agenda, including coordination, partnership, monitoring and followup, and capacity development needs at national level. The MoEYS has committed to disseminate the new global education agenda with education officials and relevant stakeholders at the national and sub-national level to bring their common

27 22 education understanding as well as to consult and discuss how to localize the global agenda to the national context. EDUCATION SECTOR: LEADER- SHIP, COORDINATION AND ADVOCACY Education Sector Working Group UNESCO Chaired the Education Sector Working Group (ESWG) for the 4 years period and the ESWG Secretariat for 14 years from April. The ESWG serves as a platform for information sharing for all development partners in the education sector, and ensures a harmonized approach in providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in working towards the implementation of the Education Strategic Plan in line with the Education For All (EFA) goals and Cambodia Millennium Development Goals (CMDGs). The ESWG is committed to supporting Cambodia in all areas and levels of education with an emphasis on education access, quality and capacity, following MoEYS priorities. The sector wide approach strategy in the education sector benefits from the local ownership and the alignment and harmonization of the donors, which contribute to the sustainability of aid coordination as well as to enhancing institutional capacity of the MoEYS. UNESCO plays a leading role in policy discussions with MoEYS at the Joint Technical Working Group, which works to align priorities with the RGC and to advocate for open dialogue, effectiveness and transparency in the sector. Furthermore, UNESCO has taken the role of Coordinating Agency in the Global Partnership for Education Grant which Cambodia applied for in 2014, based on the approved ESP which clearly identifies the investment priorities, resources and funding gap in the sector. ESWG also collaborates in the organization of the National Education Congress and the National Education Retreat that take place every year where all relevant stakeholders gather to review the progress made towards achieving the goals set in the current strategic plan. Technical and Vocational Education and Training The TVET Coordination Working Group was established with support from ADB and UNESCO under the leadership of the Directorate-General of TVET, Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Development Partners and Private Stakeholders. UNESCO actively participates in the Working Group advocating for improving accessibility, qua-lity and relevance of TVET, elaboration of qualifications frame-

28 education 23 work and coordination between formal and TVET streams. Launch of Education For All Global Monitoring Reports (EFA-GMR) 2014 and 2015 The launching of Global Monitoring Reports is key event bringing together the senior Government and MoEYS leaders and policy makers, national and international development partners, academia and civil society actors together to share reflect upon Cambodia s EFA progress vis a vis the global trends and experiences. The EFA-GMR Summary Report is translated into Khmer and made widely available. The 2014 GMR launch highlighted the importance of Quality Teaching and Learning for and the 2015 report summarized the 15 years of EFA journey from The Minister opened and delivered keynote addresses in both the launches highlighting Cambodia s achievements and policy directions in education. Celebration of International Days on Education UNESCO supports the Global Campaign for Education, which is an advocacy mechanism aiming at raising the awareness of the authorities and the civil society of issues such as access to a quality education in terms of enrollment, completion and quality learning outcomes. UNESCO, in partnership with NEP and other local and international NGOs, come together every year in order to organize activities and celebrate International Days by organizing events and/or writing articles in the media in order to raise awareness on topics that concern the mission and vision of UNESCO, such as Mother Tongue Day, Li-teracy Day and World Teachers Day.

29 24 education HIV/AIDS AND SEXUAL EDUCATION AT SCHOOL UNESCO has collaborated with other relevant UN agencies and NGO partners to support the Inter-Departmental Committee on HIV/AIDS and Drugs (ICHAD) of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to develop and implement comprehensive sexuality education at school. A number of activities have been conducted, specifically capacity development of ICHAD members and school teachers to deliver the four comprehensive sexuality education manuals developed in In total, 989 teacher trainers and teacher trainees (591 female) were trained at six Regional Teacher Training Centers through pre-service and in-service training. In addition, provincial officials, literacy trainers and teachers responsible for non-formal education programme, out-of-school youth and adolescents benefitted also of this training through the community learning centers. In 2015, the programme has been scaled up to 10 provinces: Battambang, BanteayMeanchey, Pailin, Svay Rieng, Kep, Koh Kong, Pursat, Preah Sihanouk, Kompong Chhnang and Kampot. Within the framework of the comprehensive sexuality education and WASH programmes, UNESCO joined its partners to develop and publish a booklet on Growth and Change of Adolescent Girls that focuses on issues of puberty and sexuality education and the role of teachers in making schools a safe learning environment. In addition, UNESCO provided its

30 education 25 technical assistance in revision of School Health Policy of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and in the drafting of guidelines for delivering and monitoring comprehensive sexuality education curriculum implementation at school level. As part of HIV/AIDS programme, UNESCO provided technical assistance to empower participation of young key population in HIV response, including the training on the New Generation Leadership in Cambodia to provide practical tools to the young people to gain new knowledge, information and practical skills to work effectively in the community in terms of leadership and advocacy on HIV & AIDS and sexual reproductive health and rights. As a result, nearly 100 young leaders from 3 provinces got trained on the New Generation Leadership programme and around 250 young key population actively engaged in the Forum organized in Further, recognizing the situation that many young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) are bullied over their sexuality or gender identity, and are walking into schools every day with fear and dread, UNESCO also assisted the Ministry and Cam ASEAN Youth Future to lead the PurpleMySchool campaign in UNESCO also supported the translation of all documents, curriculum resource and global guidance on this issue to advance everyone s capacity to address school-related gender-based violence.

31 NATURAL SCIENCES

32 natural sciences 27 UNESCO began sounding the alarm over the need for a sustainable development in 1968 by organizing a groundbreaking conference questioning our unbridled exploitation of nature. Since then, UNESCO has developed several international scientific programmes to better understanding and managing the Earth`s resources. These programmes are playing an important role in Asia and the Pacific region. The Natural Sciences unit of the UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh contributes to UNESCO s mission by using science to build peace, to eradicate poverty and to promote sustainable development. UNESCO s primary objectives in Cambodia are to conserve natural resources, to mobilize scientific knowledge and to promote science education for the sustainable development of Cambodia. Natural Sciences Unit collaborates with other units, namely, Education and Culture in working towards: Fostering policies and capacitybuilding in Science, Technology and Innovation for sustainable development. Biosphere Reserves as learning places for sustainable development Raising awareness towards sustainable development FOSTERING POLICIES AND CA- PACITY-BUILDING IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVA- TION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVE- LOPMENT Science, technology and innovation are clearly recognized as keys to attain sustainable development. The understanding of the importance of the environment is vital for current and future human wellbeing. This is the reason why UNESCO supports different science, technology and innovation festivals. Science Film Festival ln order to promote access to scientific and technical knowledge and contribute to development of a culture of science education, UNESCO has supported in November 2014 and 2015 the celebration of the Science Film Festival, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Goethe Institute in Bangkok, Meta House in Phnom Penh and the Khmer Youth and Social Development NGO. The film screenings took place in Phnom Penh and some provinces such as Kampong Thom, Kampot and Stung Treng.

33 28 natural sciences Khmer Science Film Festival demonstrated that science can be communicated in both educational and entertaining manner through audiovisual media. The festival contributed to the development of a science communication infrastructure and supported science education, while inspiring scientific curiosity of a new generation of Cambodians as well as raising awareness on main environmental topics. In fact, it is essential for the Cambodian youth to learn and understand the issues surrounding science and environment in order to move towards the sustainable development of their country. Cambodia Science and Engineering Festival The Cambodia Science and Engineering Festival (CSEF) was the first national-level event aimed at raising awareness on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and increasing the literacy level of young scientists and engineers in the Kingdom. CSEF aims at instilling excitement in Cambodian youth and adults, and to illuminate the exciting possibilities that a career in STEM can offer. This project is in line with UNESCO s mandate of promoting access to scientific and technical knowledge, contributing to developing a culture of science education. The 1 st and 2 nd CSEF were organized by a group of civic-minded volunteers who care deeply about the development of Cambodia, in partnership with the Kingdom s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport). The festival was initially catalyzed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, USAID, the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation with the support of UNESCO.

34 natural sciences 29 The main output of both festivals was the national excitement among Cambodian youth about STEM, the elevation of STEM into the national dialogue, the opportunity for Cambodian educators who are provided with a national venue for engaging their students with STEM and the commitment demonstrated by the Government to STEM with the Cambodian youth. BIOSPHERE RESERVES AS LEARNING PLACES FOR SUS- TAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is an Intergovernmental Scientific Programme aiming to set a scientific basis for the improvement of the relationships between people and their environment globally. Biosphere Reserves are, therefore, sites established by countries and recognized under UNESCO s MAB Programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science. Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve In 1997, Tonle Sap Great Lake was recognized as the first Biosphere Reserve in Cambodia. UNESCO supported the Royal Government of Cambodia in the designation of this area in order to promote the sustainable management of the site. The Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, covering an area of around 250,000 hectares in the dry season. The lake also constitutes one of Cambodia s most important sites, rich in natural resour-ces. Due to a unique hydrological phenomenon, when the monsoon begins, the swollen waters of the Mekong River force the Tonle Sap River to reverse its flow northwards, feeding the Great Lake and spreading over the surrounding flood plain. However, because of its economic value, the Tonle Sap Lake is coming under increasing pressure from over-exploitation of its natural resources. In order to avoid this to go further, UNESCO contributed to the drafting process of the Prek Toal Core Area Management Plan for the alleviation of poverty and enhancing sustainable development in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve.

35 30 natural sciences In addition, UNESCO supports the exhibition on the Tonle Sap that the NGO Krousar Thmey hosts in Siem Reap by supervising the update of the content as well as developing the section dedicated to the Biosphere Reserve concept. Preservation of the Cardamom Mountains UNESCO is working towards preserving one of the most pristine regions in mainland South East Asia: The Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia, which hold one of the last intact wild forests. This site is an important ecosystem, both for species and people. These forested mountains represent some of the region s largest remaining habitats for threatened species including tigers and bears. At the same time, signs of human presence during prehistoric times have been identified in the area. However, threats and problems are mounting rapidly in the Cardamom Mountains: Illegal logging, wildlife hunting, forest clearing, etc. which may lead to a devastating loss of forest. UNESCO is, therefore, working closely with the Ministry of Environment and NGOs towards the sustainable management of the site and its natural resources and its possible nomination as Biosphere Reserve. 8 th South East Asian Biosphere Reserve Network and 2 nd Asia Pacific Biosphere Reserve Network Meeting and 9 th Southeast Asian Biosphere Reserve Network 8 th SeaBRnet and 2nd APBR net Within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, UNESCO Jakarta in collaboration with UNESCO Phnom Penh and Ministry of Environment of Cambodia organized the joint event: 8 th Southeast Asia Biosphere Reserves network Strategic Meeting, 2 nd Asia-Pacific Biosphere Reserves network Strategic Meeting and Asia-Pacific Workshop for Capacity-Building of Biosphere Reserves and Protected Areas from 15 to 19 December 2014 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

36 natural sciences 31 The 8 th Southeast Asia Biosphere Reserves network Strategic Meeting was focused on Biosphere Reserves as Places for Sustainable Development through Ecotourism and Eco-labeling, while in the 2 nd Asia-Pacific Biosphere Reserves network Strategic Meeting the main topic was Biosphere Reserves as Models for Alleviating Poverty through Ecosystems Services. Representatives from the MAB National Committees and from Biosphere Reserves networks in the Southeast Asia and protected areas management for the managers and experts of Biosphere Reserves and protected areas from the Asia and the Pacific region. The joint event included a field trip to Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. 9 th Southeast Asian Biosphere Reserve Network The 9 th Southeast Asian Biosphere Reserve Network (SeaBRnet) meeting addressed issues linked with the visibility, branding and communication strategies of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) and specially the Biosphere Reserves in Southeast Asia. The new MAB Strategy ( ) supports the cooperation management and communication for strengthening capacities and resources in Biosphere Reserves, aligned with the core principles, vision and mission of the MAB Programme. and the Asia-Pacific regions were invited to present about their countries or Biosphere Reserves experience related to the themes of the meetings. The meetings were followed by a 2 day training workshop on Biosphere Reserves The 9 th SeaBRnet meeting, which was held in Indonesia in October 2015, brought its country members together to share knowledge, experience and case studies focusing on visibility, branding and communication activities with an aim to increase the visibility of the MAB Programme in the region. The meeting scoped the willingness and availability of the SeaBRnet members to get involved in the MAB communication and branding project by volunteering to become pilot Biosphere Reserves.

37 32 natural sciences The participating members presented their country report, and shared their best practices and case studies on branding and communication activities, which can be used as basis to scope a joint strategy to increase the visibility of the Biosphere Reserves locally, as well as the SeaBRnet at the regional and global levels. Future national and international cooperation activities, not only in terms of communication but also in other areas, were also discussed during the meeting. Cooperation towards Sustainable Management of Natural Resources UNESCO aims at the sustainable use of natural resources as well as at conserving Cambodia s environment which is facing several threats. Special attention is being paid to the forestry sector in regards to its sustainable development. In 2012, UNESCO became a member of the Technical Working group on the Forestry Reform where, in close cooperation with the relevant ministries and institutions, it provides technical assistance to the Royal Government of Cambodia in identifying priority areas, harmonizing activities, improving the utilization, mobilization of resources and supporting efforts to strengthen the forestry sector s capacity to contribute to the economic growth. An e-platform has been created recently in 2014 in order to share the projects, news and events related to the Forestry Reform Technical Working Group, where UNESCO is an active partner. RAISING AWARENESS TO- WARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVE- LOPMENT Water awareness photo competition UNESCO is working towards the sustainable development of Cambodia by supporting different awareness raising activities. UNESCO supported technically and actively the NGO called Through Waters in UNESCO supported Through Waters goal to create an open platform for global dialogue where culture and science join forces to bring together knowledge,

38 natural sciences 33 awareness and art. UNESCO, jointly with Canon Cambodia and Through Waters, organized a competition in two different categories: photos and essays (Khmer and English), where the main topic was Why water is important?. This competition aimed at raising awareness on water through art, science and culture. Cambodian Anti-Plastic Bag Campaign With the aim of developing a plastic reducing and recycling habit among Cambodian society and enhancing their knowledge about it UNESCO organized the Cambodian Anti-Plastic Campaign. This campaign consisted of the production and broadcasting of a short animation movie showing the impact of throwing away plastics on health and environment. It also provided some knowledge on plastic waste management. This movie realized by Phare Ponleu Selepak and supported by EXO Foundation and UNESCO was screened on different social medias, including the main TV channels, radio and Facebook. The launching of the Cambodian Anti- Plastic Bag Campaign was supported by UNESCO, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Tourism, Union of Cambodian Youth Federations, Exo Foundation as well as other donors. The event mobilized volunteer youth groups to collect the plastic in three main Cambodian cities i.e., Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, in order to create awareness on plastic reduction and recycling and to be followed by a behavioral change of Cambodian society. Biodiversity Book The Biodiversity Book in Cambodia: A Treasure to Protect was produced by UNESCO, Ministry of Environment, SIPAR and supported by the Japanese-Funds-in- Trust. The Biodiversity Book focuses principally on five main biodiversity hotspots in Cambodia, including the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, Cardamom Mountains, Mangroves, Coral Reef and Mekong Region Ecosystems. The main objective of the book is to raise awareness on biodiversity among Cambodian youth and students. The reader will discover the functioning of ecosystems, the threats that these areas face and on-going conservation activities as well as eco-tourism projects in the target areas. The last part of the book provides some concrete tips and a fascinating quiz for young people to become more environmentally friendly and ultimately, a good eco-citizen.

39 34 natural sciences This book will be distributed to all secondary schools of target areas, some Eco- Schools in Mondulkiri province, and many other libraries throughout Cambodia, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, SIPAR and UNESCO. SUSTAINABILITY TRANSFORMA- TION ACROSS THE REGION Restoring and Enhancing Angkor World Heritage Site and Siem Reap City Water Systems pilot project The immediate objective of the Sustainability Transformation Across the Region (STAR) is to integrate Sustainability Science concepts into natural resource management frameworks and processes that serve and align well with regional research and management challenges while supporting opportunities for more sustainable and resilient futures. The project also aims to raise awareness about sustainability science among policy-makers in the Asia and Pacific region, with a view to position this as part of the national and regional science and technology policy. The key objective of this sustainability science pilot project is to help restore and preserve Angkor World Heritage site s water management system by strategic planning of the surface and groundwater systems of the Siem Reap and their inter-

40 natural sciences 35 actions with the ecosystem of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve using sustainability science approach. In order to achieve this key objective, the sub-objectives are: Production and dissemination of the best practices and examples of this pilot project, including recommendations. Protect water reserves by reducing the amount of water drawn from the water table through the use of ecotechnologies; Conserve water resources and consequently, raise awareness on water importance and appeal to the publicspiritedness of all to avoid wasteful or improper use of water; Reuse and recycle wastewater by using eco-hydrology and eco-technologies for urban and industrial treatment;

41 CULTURE

42 culture 37 UNESCO s work in the field of culture in Cambodia is considerably wide and highly visible at the national and international level. As both heritage and creativity lay the foundations for vibrant, innovative and prosperous knowledge societies, UNESCO works with the Royal Government of Cambodia not only in the field of the preservation, conservation and restoration of Cambodia s tangible, intangible and underwater heritage but also the fields of cultural policy, museums, fight against illicit traffic of cultural objects, cultural diversity and support to creative industries. UNESCO s programmes are motivated by the implementation of seven international Conventions in the field of culture. UNESCO Conventions on Culture : Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention, The Hague, 14 May 1954 PROTECTION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF ARMED CONFLICT 1954 CONVEN- TION Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, Paris, 14 November 1970 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Paris, 16 November 1972 Second Protocol to the Hague Convention, The Hague, 26 March 1999 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, Paris, 2 November 2001 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Paris, 17 October 2003 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Paris, 20 October 2005 First ASEAN Regional seminar on the UNESCO 1954 Hague Convention From 1-3 September 2015, the Royal Government of Cambodia, in close cooperation with UNESCO, organized the first ever ASEAN Regional seminar on the UNESCO 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of the Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, under the High Patronage of H.I.R.H. The Archduke Karl von Habsburg, in the province of Preah Vihear. The event was a training course for ASEAN Military personnel and was attended by officers and soldiers from the Philippines, Laos, Malaysia and Cambodia. Training courses on the implementation of the 1954 Hague Convention were given by a range of International Experts.

43 38 culture FIGHT AGAINST ILLICIT TRAF- FICKING OF CULTURAL OBJECTS 1970 CONVENTION Return of Stolen Cultural Objects The 1970 Convention is the first international legal framework for the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property. In May 2014, three additional sculptures looted in the temple of Prasat Chen located in the archaeological Koh Ker site were returned to Cambodia: Duryodhana from Sotheby s, Bhima from Norton Simon Museum and Balarama from Christie s. In May 2015, was celebrated another return of the 10 th century statue Hanuman, the kneeling Hindu monkey god by the Museum of Art of Cleveland, United States of America. These successful recoveries were made possible by the combined effect of a smooth cooperation amongst all the partners involved. In view of preventing further illicit trafficking and recovering stolen cultural objects, UNESCO works in close partnership with the National Museum of Cambodia, under the authority of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, to establish an inventory of all stolen and returned objects. Exhibition of the Returned Cultural Objects at National Museum The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Ecole Française d Extrême-Orient and UNESCO organized a temporary exhibition of all the Koh Ker sculptures recently returned to Cambodia, with the support of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the U.S. Embassy. The exhibition was inaugurated on 1 October 2014, at the National Museum of Cambodia, and remained open to the public during five months. WORLD HERITAGE 1972 CONVENTION International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor The functioning of the Standing Secretariat of the International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC- Angkor) is ensured by UNESCO and the APSARA National Authority, in close consultation with the two co-chairmanships of France and Japan and the Royal Government of Cambodia. The Secretariat organized five meetings during the years 2014 and 2015, two Plenary Sessions and three Technical Committees. All

44 culture 39 meetings have been held at the APSARA National Authority headquarters in Siem Reap in June and December 2014 and The Plenary Session gathers ambassadors and decision makers to discuss on the cooperation perspective and assistance to ensure the protection, preservation and sustainable development of Angkor World Heritage Site. The Technical Committee is where all national and international teams can discuss any specific technical and scientific issues related to their conservation and restoration work on-site, share results and experiences and may need recommendations from other experts, in particular from the ad hoc Experts. In 2015, it has been proposed to organize two technical sessions per year due to the growing volume and complexity of projects being implemented in Angkor. The ad hoc Experts regularly monitor conservation and sustainable development worksites and provide advice to the teams working at Angkor during three or four days preceding each ICC-Angkor meeting. The ad hoc Experts recommendations and their implementation are presented and discussed at each session. The Secretariat ensures the connection between all partners, i.e. national and international technical teams, the private sector, the ad hoc Experts and the national authorities to ease a constructive dialogue and to ensure that all conservation Duryodhana Bhima Sahadeva Nakula Balarama

45 40 culture and sustainable development projects carried out at the World Heritage Site of Angkor follow the highest international standards. During the last two years, special attention has been paid to the following projects: The parvis of Angkor Wat and the development of parvis in general; Implementation of the Tourism Management Plan; Implementation of the Risk Maps; Monitoring of major restoration projects in progress: Bakheng, Bayon, Western Mebon, Angkor Wat, Takeo, Ta Prohm, and Terrace of the Elephants; The implementation of recommendations of the 3rd Intergovernmental Conference on Angkor. About 350 participants were present at each ICC-Angkor session. More than 30 projects are being implemented in the Angkor World Heritage site, covering the fields of restoration, research, archaeology, training, environment and sustainable development. The ICC-Angkor plays a crucial role in coordinating all these projects in order to keep a good balance between preservation and sustainable development.

46 culture 41 Conservation and Restoration projects Conservation and Restoration of Angkor Wat Temple fun-ded by the Italy Funds-in-Trust to UNESCO aims to follow up and complete the restoration of West Moat Embankment - following the methodology which has been elaborated and presented to the ICC-Angkor. Significant achievements are as follows: Removal and storage of the embankment soil; Placing of the reinforcement and drainage composite fabric; Placing and compaction of the sandy soil back into the wrapped massive fill embankment; Placing and compaction of the sandy gravel into the slurry trenches between the wrapped massive fill embankment; Implementation of a superficial drainage system; Construction of the channels and culvert for the collection of the streaming water; Treatment of the finite soil surface by seeding. Moreover, an Italian TV RAI Broadcast Team came to the Moat site to shoot some images for a documentary film on the Restoration Projects funded by the Italian Government. Conservation and Restoration of the Bayon Temple funded by the Japan Funds-in-Trust to UNESCO. The JASA Team has conducted many types of mapping of the structure before restoration of the Tower 55 of the Bayon Temple. A new database of all scattered blocks has been designed and data have been inputted into the system. In total, 363 blocks of scattered stone around the Tower 55 and 339 blocks were recorded by photo and measurement into the database after finishing the drawing in situ. A Symposium on the Bayon Temple was organized prior to the meeting of the ICC-Angkor on 3 December

47 42 culture 2014, to present the current status of The International Coordination research, conservation, and restoracommittee for the Safeguartion works being done by JASA and ding and Development of the affiliated organizations. Site of Preah Vihear The World Heritage Site of Preah Vihear The Eco-Global Museum of Preah Vihear The Temple of Preah Vihear was inscribed in the World Heritage List on 7 July UNESCO supports the Government s efforts in implementing the decisions formulated by the World Heritage Committee for the conservation and sustainable development of the site as well as to develop of an eco-global museum. The Eco-Global Museum of Preah Vihear is located at the outskirts of the city of Sraem in the province of Preah Vihear and constitutes the gates for the visit to the Preah Vihear World Heritage site situated 23 km north from there. This cultural centre combines an ethnographic exhibition on the indigenous Kuay community and the province s rich heritage on archaeology, history, fauna and flora. Several UNESCO expert missions were organized to monitor the state of conservation of the Temple and to define new restoration projects as well as to finalize some works in the museum which will be officially inaugurated in The Inaugural Session of the International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Site of Preah Vihear (ICC-Preah Vihear) was held in December 2014 and presided by the Co-Chairs, India and China. This first plenary session was presided by H.E SOK An, Deputy Prime Minister, and honored by the presence of the President of the General Conference of UNESCO, H.E HAO Ping. The other members of the ICCPreah Vihear are: Belgium, France, Japan,

48 culture Thailand, and United States of America. This first plenary meeting was followed by the first technical session and a second plenary session respectively in September and December The projects being implemented on-site or proposed for implementation, and discussed at the technical and plenary sessions of the ICC-Preah Vihear, are related to the preservation and conservation of the National Park surrounding the site (approximately 400 km2), the conservation of the monumental site and more in particular the Gopura V through an Emergency assistance contribution from the World Heritage Fund. For monumental conservation issues, the National Authority of Preah Vihear is currently being assisted by the Universities of Waseda and Meiji (Japan). Revitalize World Heritage Site Museum in Cambodia Within the framework of the capacitybuilding programme Assistance to World Heritage Site Museums in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam - Revitalizing Site Museums funded by the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-trust, which aims to build the capacity of museum staff in researching, collecting and interpreting living cultures in connection to their archaeological collections, several exhibitions have been organized in Cambodia by UNESCO in close cooperation with the Cambodian authorities. Utilizing the concept of the site museum, where the authentic values and meanings of World Heritage are interpreted and presented, the project aimed to develop two new exhibitions focusing on the immaterial aspects of the Angkor World Heritage Site, and to increase involvement of the local communities living in and around the Angkor Site. A trial exhibition was held in April 2015 at the Interpretation Centre for Khmer Habitat in Angkor in order to present the views of villagers contributing to the exhibition production and to further improve its contents in a participatory manner. During the ICC-Angkor meeting in June 2015, a preliminary exhibition was held in the meeting venue and an intervention 43

49 44 culture was communicated by the two community project coordinators. The first Exhibition called Photovoice was inaugurated on 8 August 2015 at the National Museum of Cambodia in the presence of the Secretary of State from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Minister Counsellor of the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh. The second Exhibition was inaugurated on 18 August 2015 at the Interpretation Centre for Khmer Habitat, Siem Reap, in the presence of the Director-General of the APSARA National Authority and the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Paris. Within the framework of these two exhibitions, educational programmes were carried out at the Prek Dam Beng secondary school, Kandal province, as well as at secondary schools in Siem Reap in August Assistance to the preparation of the Sambor Prei Kuk Nomination File for World Heritage Listing UNESCO Experts assisted in assessing the nomination file prepared by the team of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. Experts gave their recommendations in order to finalize the nomination dossier to

50 culture 45 be submitted for inscription on the World Heritage List. Road Map for Banteay Chhmar Archeological Site The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MCFA) was actively taking the lead to create a model for heritage management, and has chosen the site of Banteay Chhmar as a study case. Within this framework, the MCFA, in close cooperation with UNESCO, organized a Round Table on 6 June 2014, in order to propose a Road Map for the preservation and management of Banteay Chhmar Temple in collaboration with the other national and international partners. A number of significant recommendations were formulated at the end of this session. THE UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE 2001 CONVENTION Within the framework of the commemorative events of the larger UNESCO programme Safeguarding the World s Underwater Cultural Heritage Centenary of World War I, UNESCO has prepared a virtual version of an exhibition related to the Indochinese war forces (Vietnamese and Cambodian workers and soldiers) having contributed to the First World War which was presented by Cambodian underwater archaeologists in Bruges, Belgium, in June In the course of 2015, an exhibition has been prepared in close cooperation with the Lycée Descartes to be presented at the National Museum in 2016 to: Demonstrate the value of peace, rather than aggression; Strengthen the understanding of the complex relations between the European powers and their colonies, through a moving exhibition in form of a virtual exhibition and an exhibition of artefacts; Commemorate the sacrifices of the colonies, in using specific maritime tragedies to underline the importance of the naval war during World War I; Illustrate convincingly the historic importance of the Underwater Cultural Heritage remains, and to make the public acknowledge and understand them. INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE 2003 CONVENTION Capacity-Building Workshop on Community-Based Documentation In March 2014, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, in close collaboration with UNESCO, with the support of International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP), jointly organized a capacity-building workshop on community-based documentation and inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in cooperation with the Siem Reap Provincial Authorities. The workshop ex-

51 46 culture plored the current status of inventorying and documenting Intangible Cultural Heritage in Cambodia and aimed to train government officials on the conceptual framework and methodology for implementing such work. Trainees got a very rich documentation on the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Basic texts, Operational Directives, especially, techniques and methods to elaborate questionnaires and to prepare all necessary equipment to conduct documentation and inventorying of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Most of documents, trainers presentations were translated into Khmer and distributed to all participants to be developed, adapted and reused in the communities of their respective provinces. Trainees were acquainted of the important concept of the Free, Prior, informed consent from communities and practitioners in conducting documentation and inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Capacity-Building Workshop on Digital Preservation and Cambodian-Chinese Puppetry Exhibition In March 2015, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, in close collaboration with UNESCO, jointly organized a Capacity Building Workshop on Implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: Towards Digital Preservation. This training workshop was supported by CRIHAP from 16 to 20 March 2015 in Siem Reap. Around 38 national participants, Directors of provincial Departments of Culture and Fine Arts, practitioners, NGOs and communities representatives, attended the event during which an exchange of experience between practitioners of the Chinese Fujian puppetry and the Cambodian Shadow Puppet (Sbek Thom) took place. CULTURAL POLICY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY CON- VENTION 2005 National Policy for Culture in Cambodia With technical and financial assistance from UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts finalized the first National Policy for Culture which was officially approved by the Royal Government of Cambodia in July The launching ceremony of the National Policy for Culture was organized at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts on 30 th September A consultative workshop was organized on 14 th October 2014 with all stakeholders to define a Road Map to implement the National Policy for Culture with the assistance of UNESCO Experts from the Secretariat of the 2005 Convention.

52 culture 47 Preservation and Promotion of Minority Languages International Conference on Languages UNESCO contributed to the 6 th International Conference on Austroasiatic Linguistics (ICAAL6) to explore the diversity of Austroasiatic languages organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia in Siem Reap province from 29 to 31 July This conference gave the opportunity to promote all UNESCO publications related to minority languages in Cambodia. Publication on the Bunoong Minority Within a project supported by UNESCO, a 700-page book entitled Voix du Mondulkiri Historique, on the Bunoong minority language and traditions written by the ethnolinguistic scholar Sylvain Vogel, has been officially published in July FIRST UNWTO/UNESCO WORLD CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AND CULTURE From 4 to 6 February 2015 in Siem Reap, the first UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture in close cooperation with the Royal Government of Cambodia, brought together Ministers of Culture and Ministers of Tourism, leading experts, stakeholders and speakers from 100 countries in the two fields to highlight the need to create a new framework for collaboration between tourism and culture, which includes active participation of host communities, visitors, the public and the private sector. Fifty Ministers of Tourism and Culture discussed how tourism and culture administrations can work together to develop a governance framework which will support culturallyaware, inclusive and sustainable cultural tourism, contribute to the socio-economic development of host communities, promote cross-cultural exchanges, and generate resources for heritage conservation.

53 COMMUNICATION and INFORMATION

54 communication and information 49 Freedom of expression and information is the cornerstone on which democratic societies are built. Independent, free and pluralistic media have a crucial role to play in governance of democratic societies by ensuring transparency and accountability, promoting participation and the rule of law, and contributing to the fight against poverty. UNESCO assists the country in working towards a free and open press and media through legislative and policy support, capacity building programmes and advocacy. UNESCO s Communication and Information sector bases its work on the promotion and defense of human rights and basic freedoms, and aims to raise awareness of freedom of expression and freedom of information. UNESCO provides and strengthens communication and information facilities at the local community level. In addition to the regular programme, the Communication and Information Unit implements various projects in collaboration with other UN agencies, with international and national non-governmental organizations, public institutions and the local authorities. CAPACITY BUILDING OF MEDIA PROFESSIONALS After more than twenty years of conflict and international isolation, the mainstream communication infrastructures of Cambodia were severely affected. Moreover, the country lost the majority of its educated and skilled media professionals. Set up in 1994 as the first media training centre in the nation, the Cambodia Communication Institute (CCI), a joint project of UNESCO, the Royal Government of Cambodia and DANIDA, aimed to assist in the reconstruction and development of the communication sector. UNESCO has continued its support to the Cambodia Communication Institute to support journalist training in print, radio and television and has produced learning materials in Khmer and English which have been distributed among journalists, policy makers, NGOs and media experts with the aim to influence change at the policy level as well as at the grassroots level. In order to increase demand for the Access to Information law in Cambodia, UNESCO partnered with the Cambodia Communication Institute in 2015 to implement trainings of media professionals on investigative reporting, media ethics and systems of public information disclosure. Journalists play a critical role in assisting citizens to make informed decisions through fact-based, independent and ethical journalism, and they are at the

55 50 communication and information forefront of the fight against any Access to Information regime. Likewise in Cambodia, it will be the role of journalists to request information from public bodies on behalf of the citizens, analyze, and deliver news once the law is passed. As part of a three-year initiative, the first cohort of journalists have been trained under a year-long program at CCI. PROMOTING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION The theme of the World Press Freedom Day 2015 in Cambodia was Let Journalism thrive! : Journalists and Access to Information. This celebration aimed to provide a forum for media representatives and practitioners to discuss the challenges journalists face in accessing public information. What provisions in the upcoming Access to Information legislation can assist journalists to conduct their work thoroughly, independently, and in a timely manner? What practical World Press Freedom Day World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is celebrated across the globe every 3 rd May, presenting an opportunity to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, to assess the state of press freedom worldwide, and to remind governments of the need to respect their commitments to freedom of expression. The Theme of the World Press Freedom Day 2014 was Safety of Journalists in Cambodia: Rule of law in ensuring the safety of journalists and combating impunity. This WPFD celebration aimed to provide a forum for dialogue among media representatives, practitioners, and civil society organizations to discuss the current challenges and issues surrounding freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in Cambodia. barriers are currently in place that hinder journalists reporting practices? A session was also dedicated to reflections on free speech and the tragic events of Charlie Hebdo.

56 communication and information 51 These celebrations were cooperative efforts of UNESCO, United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Cambodian Communication Institute (CCI), Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ), Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists (CAPJ), and the Department of Media and Communication (DMC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Access to Information Legislation Through the Millennium Declaration, the United Nations has expressed a strong support to democratic and participatory governance, and recognized access to information and independent media as the necessary tool to achieve these goals. An Access to Information Law will call for transparency in decision-making, empowerment of citizens and accountability in the quest for development, and will be central to the success of the post-2015 development agenda. Access to information law is an essential development tool and a critical element in contributing to transparent economic and social practices, good governance and the fight against corruption. Democracy demands that individuals are able to participate in decision-making processes and assess the performance of their government. UNESCO is supported by the Government of Sweden to implement a three-year initiative Working Towards an Access to Information Law in Cambodia: Bridging the Government and Citizens for Participatory Law-making. The overall objective of this project is to promote an inclusive Access to Information law-making process through bridging the government and citizens in Cambodia. During the biennium, UNESCO and the Women Media Center (WMC) implemen-

57 52 communication and information ted five community forums based on different geographical areas, covering 25 provinces. During the consultation process, at least 300 members from selected communities, out of which 150 were women, engaged with the participatory law-making process. The community forums played a key role in empowering local citizens to present their information needs, and experiences and challenges in accessing certain information. Before giving the floor to community members to discuss, the forum participants were provided with background information about the general principles of freedom of information, their rights under international treaties and conventions, as well as national relevant laws guaranteeing rights to information, etc. UNESCO and the Advocacy Policy Institute (API) successfully completed seven sectoral forums with 479 participants (157 women), working directly with a network of NGOs involved in seven specific sectors education, gender, human rights, agriculture, media, youth and health. Through working directly with each area, UNESCO and API worked to compile the information needs that are specific to each sector. An important component of the Access to Information Law initiative is the establishment of an Access to Information Technical Working Group which is composed of the Representatives of the Ministry of Information, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), journalist associations, development partners and diplomatic communities to contribute to the drafting of an Access to Information legislation. The working group which is co-chaired by the Minister of Information and UNESCO, meets bi-monthly to discuss the release of new chapters of the legislation, and to agree on revisions. The group is working towards achieving an internationalstandard legislation which takes into account the Cambodian context. The Youth Mobile App Initiative in Cambodia The next 1 billion new internet connections will be from mobile devices in the hands of young people from developing countries. The Youth Mobile program builds on the consideration that for millions of young people, the smartphone in their pocket is a very powerful computer, which they use in nearly all aspects of their lives: communicating, learning, taking pictures, and playing games. With this new initiative, UNESCO and Instedd ilab strived to provide young Cambodian people with the high-level skills and confidence to develop and promote relevant mobile apps that address local issues for sustainable development. The program aimed to introduce youth to computer science programming (learning-to-code) and problem solving (coding-to-learn). It also sought to build on experiences targeting young women who are vastly underrepresented in this field. Young Cambodians successfully

58 communication and information 53 developed a variety of mobile app prototypes about traffic issues, scholarships, trash collection, NGOs in the country, and more at the end of the program. UNESCO Community Radio Programme in Rattanakiri Province The purpose of community radio is not to do something for the community but to provide the community with an opportunity to do something for itself. Through community radio, community members can promote their own identity and character, raise voices about their concerns and also contribute to the local culture and become part of a plurality of voices. In Rattanakiri province, UNESCO supports a community radio program in four different indigenous languages - Kreung, Brao, Tampeun, and Jaraï - covering important issues such as health, education, agriculture, culture, forestry, environment and more. The community radio programme is significant in its potential to reach the various disadvantaged minority communities of rural and remote provinces of Northeastern Cambodia which has a significant number of indigenous people.

59 54 communication and information PRESERVING DOCUMENTARY AND AUDIOVISUAL HERITAGE MEMORY OF THE WORLD Heritage under the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme is the documented collective memory of the people of the world. It is the legacy of the past. The programme recognizes documentary heritage of international, regional and national significance, maintains registers of it, and facilitates preservation and access without discrimination. It campaigns to raise awareness of the documentary heritage and alerts governments, the general public and businesses to preservation needs.

60 communication and information 55 UNESCO, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, is implementing a three-year initiative to digitize and preserve the historical photographs and documents from the site of the S-21 prison and interrogation center of the Pol Pot regime, currently the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. These documents were listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register on 31 July, The museum archives holds 4,186 prisoner confessions, 6,226 biographies of prisoners and 6,147 photographic prints.

61 The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO

62 the cambodian national commission for unesco 57 UNESCO is the only UN Agency to have a global network of national cooperating bodies known as National Commissions for UNESCO. National Commissions make part of the overall constitutional architecture of the Organization. Set up by their respective governments in accordance with Article VII of the UNESCO Constitution, the National Commissions operate, on a permanent basis, for the purpose of associating their governmental and non-governmental bodies in education, sciences, culture and communication with the work of the Organization. Presently, there are 199 National Commissions for UNESCO across the world. They constitute a truly global family with as an authoritative network of stakeholders, partners and experts and offer a comparative advantage to the Organization within the United Nations system. This network plays a significant role in the liaison with partners, the coordination of activities and the promotion of UNESCO s visibility at the country level. Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO Chairman: H.E. Mr. Sok An Secretary-General: H.E. Ms. Tan Theany Deputy Secretary-Generals: H.E. Mr. Chuch Phoeurn Mr. Yos Eang Mr. Sar Sothear Office of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO: # 74, Preah Sihanouk Avenue - B.P. 29 Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA Tel.: Fax: cambonac@gmail.com Year established: 1997 The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO is the main governmental counterpart of the UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh. Since its creation in 1997, the National Commission has been the institution responsible for structuring and maintaining the contacts that UNESCO keeps with the civil society and national authorities. The National Commission is therefore the focal point for the implementation of many UNESCO activities in the country. In Cambodia, the National Commission includes representatives from the Ministries of Education, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, and Ministry of Information. The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO initiates and participates in many projects and activities of UNESCO in Cambodia. These projects are funded under the UNESCO Participation Programme and are directly implemented by different concerned Ministries such as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Environment.

63 UNESCO STAFF MEMBERS

64 59 Office of the Representative Ms. Anne LEMAISTRE Head of Office and Representative in Cambodia Mr. Kongkea KONG Secretary to Representative Mr. Sokhawat KEO Registry Clerk Administration and Finance Unit Mr. Bilal AL SHAABI Administrative Officer Mr. Khuon KHUN Administrative Assistant MS. Ratana BUON Senior Finance Clerk Mr. Chanthul SUOS Senior IT Assistant Mr. Kong BOL Logistics Clerk Mr. Sophal UONG Messenger Mr. Kim Heng UNG Driver Mr. Samoeun OUM Driver Mr. Thol DUCH Driver Mr. Kim Hong UNG Chief Security Mr. Malin SOK Security Mr. Sophai TRANG Security Mr. Vuy VA Security Education Unit Mr. Santosh KHATRI Education Specialist Dr. Soveacha ROS Programme Officer (CapEFA) Mr. Don TAN Programme Assistant Mr. Someth YINSIENG Programme Coordinator (CapEFA) Mr. Nimol SOTH Programme Officer Ms. Sra KIM Programme Officer Mr. Vutha LAY Programme Officer Ms. Dinath KIM Programme Officer

65 60 Mr. Chanthy LOCH UN Volunteer Culture Unit Mr. Philippe DELANGHE Culture Specialist Mr. Chak PROM Programme Assistant Mr. Bunhok LIM Programme Officer for ICC-Angkor Mr. Niran NOU Programme Officer for ICC-Angkor Mr. Blaise KILLIAN Project Coordinator Mr. Makara HONG Programme Officer for Intangible Culture Heritage Mr. Kosal MEY Liaison Officer Siem Reap Office Ms. Marilena SIGNORELLA Volunteer Mr. Hugo BARTHOLOME Volunteer Ms. Camille de FROIDMONT Volunteer Ms. Yurie NAGASHIMA Volunteer Communication and Information Unit Ms. Jamie LEE Communication Specialist Mr. Sophal CHHAY Project Officer Science Unit Ms. Maria INIGUEZ DE HEREDIA Science Specialist

66 61

67 GLOSSARY

68 63 APSARA CAMNAC CCA CCI CLC ECCE EFA ESD ESWG FAO ICC ICT ILO IMF IOM MOW MSM MYIFF NMSMTWG NSDP PVNA TVET UNAIDS UNAKRT UNDAF UNCDF UNCTAD UNDP UNDSS UNESCO UNFPA Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO Common Country Assessment Cambodian Communication Institute Community Learning Centre Early Childhood Care and Education Education For All Education for Sustainable Development Education Sector Working Group Food and Agreeculture Organization of the United Nations International Coordinating Committee Information and Communication Technologies International Labour Organization International Monetary Fund International Organization for Migration Memory of the World Men who have Sex with Men Multi-Year Indicative Financing Framework National MSM Secretariat Technical Working Group National Strategic Development Plan Preah Vihear National Authority Technical and Vocational Education and Training Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials UN Development Assistance Framework United Nations Capital Development Fund United Nations Conference on Trade and Development United Nations Development Programme United Nations Department of Safety and Security United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization United Nations Population Fund

69 64 UNHABITAT UNHCR UNICEF UNIDO UNODC UNOHCHR UNOPS UNRC UNV UNWOMEN UNWTO WFP WHO United Nations Human Settlements Programme United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations Children s Fund United Nations Industrial Development Organization United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations Office for Project Services United Nations Resident Coordinator United Nations Volunteers United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women United Nations World Tourism Organization World Food Programme World Health Organization

70 Document produced by: UNESCO Prepared and edited by the Publication Committee: Ms. Jamie Lee, UNESCO CI Program Officer Mr. Chanthul Suos, UNESCO Senior IT Assistant Graphic design by: Chanthul Suos Cover Drawing by Artist UNESCO

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