The Institute has recently established a presence in Cambodia with office and local staff, and has a plan to work broadly in Cambodia until 2017. The programme is supported by Sida and involves cooperation with Cambodian actors within the justice sector and academia. The initiative started with low key initiatives already in 2010.
The Institute will support the development and implementation of a new Master Programme in International Human Rights Law at PUC. The Master Programme will be launched in March/April next year. Until then the two institutions will work intensively on developing the curricula and the course syllabuses, improve the library, train teachers and researchers and select the 15 students that will receive scholarships to study the Master Programme.
– Even though the cooperation was officially initiated today, I must confess that the Institute and PUC have worked hard since May to prepare for the launch of the Master Programme in April next year. There is lots of work to be done in order to be able to offer a good Human Rights Master Programme of international standard, but I am convinced that we will succeed says Andreas Ljungholm, Head of the Institute’s Cambodia Office.
The cooperation with Pannastastra University is a milestone, and the ceremony was attended by hundreds of students and staff. Other universities committed to human rights education in the country will also receive support in the future.
–This will affect the next generation of government professionals and NGO representatives, says Andreas Ljungholm, Head of the Institute´s newly opened Cambodia office. I am convinced it will have impact on the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
At this stage the Cambodian office has just recently employed a local colleague. Sokseila Bun just took up the position as national programme officer.
– I have always insisted that human rights are important for everyone around the world, says Sokseila Bun. I look forward to work closely with partners to strengthen the capacity of academic and justice sector institutions.