The ability to share information, experiences
and lessons learned between the different IP
groups will increase the groups‘ capacity and will
make it easier for the IPs to speak with one voice
and decide collectively which issues should be
prioritized for the IP agenda. It will also add clout
to the IP-led movement with the sheer numbers
of organizations and people in the network,
increasing its leverage at both the national and
international level.
Authorities at the local and national. One of the
key reasons for the exclusion of IP voices from
land rights and other policies affecting IPs and
the apparent disregard for their human rights by
the authorities is the lack of IP representation
at all levels of government, be it at commune,
district or national level. It is therefore extremely
important for the IPs to take active part in the
mainstream electoral process, including running
as candidates or forming separate indigenous
peoples parties.
Ministry of Land and Natural Resources. Since
the Ministry is vested with the final say about
when and whether an IP community will receive
a community land title, it is of paramount
importance for the CSOs and IP organizations to
have a good relationship with the Ministry and its
representatives.
Judiciary. The courts are the last recourse at the
domestic level for IP communities to try and
enforce their land and resource rights. Therefore
establishing good working relations and linkages
with the judiciary is very important. While this
process will most likely be very time consuming
due to the widespread lack of independence and
weakness of Cambodia‘s court system, it is a step
that must be taken sooner or later for meaningful
change to happen on the ground.
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Donors. IP organizations need to establish strong
relations with donor organizations, in order to
increase their chances of sustained and direct
funding for activities and projects that are
designed for IPs by IPs.
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact. Cited as an
example of best practice is the annual Asia
regional preparatory meetings to devise strategies
and plans of action in relation to the various
United Nations mechanisms and procedures
as well as other relevant international bodies
and agencies, organized by the Asia Indigenous
Peoples Pact with the active participation of selfselected representatives of indigenous peoples,
indigenous experts and representatives of United
Nations agencies.
Specific ‘spaces’ or opportunities for indigenous
peoples’ organizations and civil society
Presence of increasingly strong IP movements
and networks. The IP communities in Cambodia’s
Rattanakiri and Mundolkiri provinces are
increasingly strong and well organized. Thanks to
the support of IRAM and local CSOs, IPs in these
provinces are engaging in campaigns and are
mobilizing to defend their lands, territories and
resources. An increasing number of IPs have a very
good knowledge about their land and resource
rights and are eager to share that knowledge with
others in their communities. At regional level, the
network of indigenous peoples known as the Asia
Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) is engaging in
numerous processes at regional and international
levels to advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights
to lands, territories and resources, including
in the context of climate change and REDD+,
resource management, international finance,
extractive industries, human rights monitoring,
development, support to indigenous women and
Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)
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