Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)

LICADHO was established in 1992. It is a national Cambodian human rights organisation which protects civil, political, economic and social rights in Cambodia and promotes respect for these human rights by the Cambodian Government and its institutions. LICADHO is therefore an advocate for the Cambodian people and a monitor of the Government
through wide ranging human rights programmes.

LICADHO’s primary activities of monitoring, intervention, documentation and advocacy aim to render government officials accountable and to promote transparent and fair systems in civil society. LICADHO pursues its mandate through its two main programmes, with its headquarters in Phnom Penh supporting 13 provincial offices throughout the country. The two main programmes of LICADHO include the Monitoring & Protection Programme and the Promotion & Advocacy Programme.

LICADHO is a national Cambodian human rights organization. Since its establishment in 1992, LICADHO has been at the forefront of efforts to protect civil, political, economic and social rights in Cambodia and to promote respect for them by the Cambodian government and institutions. Building on its past achievements, LICADHO continues to be an advocate for the Cambodian people and a monitor of the government through wide ranging human rights programs from its main office in Phnom Penh and 13 provincial offices.

LICADHO pursues its activities through two programs.

Monitoring and Protection Program

• Monitoring of State Violations, Women's & Children's Rights: Monitors investigate human rights violations perpetrated by the State and violations made against women and children. Victims are provided assistance through interventions with local authorities and court officials.
• Medical Assistance & Social Work: A medical team provides medical assistance to prisoners and prison officials in 14 prisons, victims of human rights violations and families in resettlement sites. Social workers conduct needs assessments of victims and their families and provide short-term material and food assistance.
• Prison Monitoring: Researchers monitor 18 prisons to assess prison conditions and ensure that pre-trial detainees have access to legal representation.
• Paralegal & Legal Representation: Victims are provided legal advice by a paralegal team and, in key cases, legal representation by human rights lawyers.

Promotion and Advocacy Program

Children's Right training session

• Supporting Unions, Grassroots Groups & Networks: Assistance to unions, grassroots groups and affected communities to provide protection and legal services, and to enhance their capacity to campaign and advocate for human rights.
• Training & Information: Advocates raise awareness to specific target groups, support protection networks at the grassroots level and advocate for social and legal changes with youths.
• Public Advocacy & Outreach: human rights cases are compiled into a central electronic database, so that accurate information can be easily accessed and analyzed, and produced into periodic public reports (written, audio and visual).

In addition, LICADHO conducts advocacy at the national level to bring about reforms, and works with other local and international NGOs to influence the government. LICADHO regularly produces comprehensive reports and briefing papers, and is one of the main sources of information on human rights in Cambodia.