On 5th December 2024, CYN is organizing the Annual Cambodian Young Human Rights Defenders Forum 2024 on “Promoting the Rights and Freedom of Human Rights Defenders for Equality and Social Justice” and the forum has support from USAID Cambodia Diakonia Asia and ActionAid Cambodia. 90 diverse young human rights defenders (37 women) attended the forum as representatives of the affected community and IPs community (Ponong Community affected by the Sesan Lower Hydro Power dam in Steung Treng and Meta Forest community in Kampong Spue), Prey Lang Community Networks, CYN’s members, social and environmental activists. Our expert panelists mentioned national/international encouragement regulations to promote and respect human rights defenders in the first panel discussion. Key inputs from senior human rights defenders and experts advised youths to know about their rights regarding international mechanisms and the national constitution and continue actively promoting human rights in society.
In the afternoon section, the second panel discussion featured intervention by young human rights defender panelists from the representatives of union and labor rights, environmental defender activists, and IP youth representatives of Se San Lower 2 Hydro Power Dam. Young human defenders’ panelists shared their commitment, working approaches, and lessons learned from the journey as activists.
Young human rights defenders also included an agenda to discuss their concerns and the social context affected by their work, their concerns have been critically among young activists and addressed joint recommendations to stakeholders. Finally, they were happy to network and become friends.
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