54 In defense of land rights: A monitoring report on land conflicts in six Asian countries n n n n n n n n n n For CSOs n n n n n n n n ANGOC Strengthen the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission and enforce its law and rules. Enact laws and formulate a mechanism to protect land rights defenders. Check corruption, irregularities, and bribes at land administration, courts and police stations. Take initiative to withdraw false cases over land conflicts and stop police or administrative harassments against land rights holders and defenders. Cancel lease of land among companies/corporations/political and nonpolitical influential groups for violation of land-human rights. Ensure people-centered land governance and digitalization of land management system. National Human Rights Commission can act as a negotiator to resolve land disputes by engaging political parties, CSOs and other GO-NGO stakeholders. Fast-track the resolution of land related cases at courts. Strengthen local mediation mechanisms to resolve land conflicts. Establish a 24-hour service-based unit/cell with hotlines under the Land Ministry to monitor land conflicts, take immediate actions against land grabbers and protect victims and defenders. A mobile court led by the executive magistrate can be run under the unit/cell to stop land grabbing and protect victims. Popularize land rights as human rights and business and human rights. Monitor land conflicts continuously and publish land conflict monitoring reports periodically and annually. Formulate and implement a strategic plan to reduce land-human rights violation and to assist victims and land rights defenders. Build public solidarity and support especially in cases of large-scale land grabbing and evictions due to land acquisitions that violate land-human rights. Empower affected communities and strengthen their organizations particularly landless and small producers. Improve reporting and response mechanisms to land conflicts. Monitor business interests that affect land rights. Undertaking strategic communication program engaging local land administration, CSOs, political leaders, landless people and marginalized farmers to resolve land disputes. Establish independent People’s Institutions to investigate land conflicts, including the conduct of businesses and the role of the State, towards the protection of people’s rights. m