On Friday 4 April the new Master Programme in International Human Rights Law at Pannasatra University of Cambodia was successfully launched at a ceremony attended by over 500 students and national TV. Keynote speeches were given by Professor Goran Melander, founder of RWI, H.E. Anna Maj Hultgård, Swedish Ambassador to Cambodia and the Minister of Education H.E. Dr. Hang Choun Narong.
Professor Melander who in the past has launched the human rights master programmes in Lund, Sweden and in Beijing, China stated that he was pleased to see another RWI supported master programme in human rights being launched and continued:
– Last year I attended the 10th anniversary of the master programme in Beijing and I look forward to come back to Phnom Penh in 2024 to attend the 10th anniversary of this master programme.
During the launching ceremony 15 students were given scholarship award certificates. The scholarship recipients have been selected by a Scholarship Selection Committee in a competitive process including both written submissions and interviews. The scholarship recipients have diverse backgrounds and come from NGO’s, government Institutions, media, education etc. The scholarships covers the full tuition fee for the 54 credits Master Programme. The new Master Programme has been jointly developed by PUC and RWI and will offer a unique opportunity for committed individuals to obtain an international level postgraduate qualification in international human rights law in Cambodia.
In the afternoon Professor Melander gave the first lecture of the master programme. The title of the lecture was “The Concept of Human Right and Humanitarian Law”. Professor Melander stated after the session that he was happy to see that the students had been active and asked many relevant questions.
Before Professor Melander departed from Cambodia on 5th April he met eight female law students and discussed human rights over a late breakfast for two hours. In an initiative to increase the number of female human rights lawyers in Cambodia, RWI is paying for eight female students to study law at the Royal University of Law and Economics. These students are also invited to regular extra curricula human rights classes at RWI’s office in Cambodia.
Before leaving Phnom Penh, Professor Melander said:
– It has been a great pleasure to visit Cambodia and meet with a large number of committed students. I believe the Institute is implementing a highly relevant programme in Cambodia focusing on academic education and research and the young population.