John Lowrie 

Promotion of Human Rights and Governance
 Human Rights Advocacy: Disabled children petitioning about rights to go to school; workers demonstrating for decent pay and conditions, indigenous people performing to defend traditional land and cultural rights.

Human Rights. Democracy and Governance in Cambodia

"Two steps forward, one back and one to the side!"

In 1998 I joined a human rights NGO in Cambodia and though I later moved back to work in "development" in reality these two "Foreign Aid" disciplines are inextricably linked, as denoted by "Rights-Based Development".  As a "human resources" professional I am instinctively drawn to the "constructive engagement" approach to human rights promotion rather than the "Name, Shame and Blame" one.  However the sad truth in Cambodia is that the government is equally resistant to both approaches, hence my "one step back, one to the side" mantra above that is amplified more in my "Pantomime Blog.

Current priorities

Civil and political rights remain the main cause of concern in Cambodia, one that we must all promote and protect.  However, these days I devote my efforts mainly towards four causes: rights of indigenous minorities; poor people living with disability; child rights, and free and fair elections.
Mondulkiri Bunong ethnic minority mother & baby   Kampong Chhnang first AGM 2003     Banteay Meanchey girls at a meeting      Polling Station 2018

Four Causes

Four main areas of interest are detailed here but of course many others crop up not just in relation to Cambodia but global issues. Most of my comments are made on Twitter. Much of my advice is given to victims and their advocates, as self-advocacy is normally best. At times it is dangerous for them or their families to speak up and speak out. Therefore it falls to so people like me - not in so much danger - to do so.
  • Indigenous People's Rights.  To begin to understand the plight of the original first people's of Cambodia, it is best to go to my published article "More to Cambodia than Angkor Wat" or click the pdf copy link below. See also the special section in this website based on the dedicated website I manage for several of their NGOs. Indigenous people are losing their traditional lands and livelihoods with conservation NGOs part of the problem.
  • Living with Disability.  The special page on this website devoted to New Horizons Society describes a lot. My view is that despite massive money and effort, the basic negative attitude towards disabled people is yet to change. Unfortunately the belief persists that they are "duly punished for sins in this or a past life". A key reason for this is the repeated failure of the Social Affairs ministry, as set out in my thought-provoking article "Care(less) in the Community"  first published in 2005. Click pdf copy link below.
  • Rights of the Child.  In 2004 I first questioned well-meaning but misguided people opening new orphanages when the "Care-in-the-Community" approach is clearly better for children. Basically there is still no provision for child-care specialists in the legal and social work professions devoted only to the best interests of the child. Initially I chaired a special interest group until momentum built up in to today's successful if incomplete international campaign. Please see my Twitter Moment. Recently I found that no-one else dared speak up for mothers and the children of "surrogacy" arrangements. You will see the advice and guidance I offered in the tweet dated 20 August 2019.
  • Yearning for Democracy and Good Governance. My first task in Cambodia in 1998 was to work with NGOs to ensure that despite "the 1997 coup" the national election would go ahead and be as free and fair as possible. I was the final editor for many years for reports on elections in Cambodia for the largest monitoring NGO "COMFREL" and indeed have observed and reported on every election to date. Mine was the first technical report on the highly-controversial 2018 elections. Most reputable observers stayed away once the main Opposition party was banned. Please see my report "Cambodia Election 2018 Neither Free Nor Fair"  (pdf below) as well as "Dark Clouds Gathering" fore-warning about the deteriorating democratic climate.  Good governance - fair and efficient administration of central and local public services - is also still very much needed; in private business too, and not just in Cambodia.
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