Human Rights Day, 10 December, is a public holiday in Cambodia, and most people are not working. However, the Institute’s office in Cambodia is working hard. In order to celebrate the Human Rights Day, for the third time the offices is implementing the annual 10 December Academy in Siem Reap. The Academy has become a very popular event that attracts Cambodian university teachers interested in human rights.
“The purpose of the Academy is not only to celebrate the International Human Rights Day. The main purpose is to increase the knowledge and skills among university lecturers to teach human rights at their home universities. The intensive week together is also an excellent opportunity for the teachers to network and get to know each other which will be beneficial when they need support and advice in their future teaching,” says Andreas Ljungholm, Head of Cambodia Office.
The focus of the Academy shifts from year to year. In 2013 the focus was on “Human Rights of Women” and in 2014 on “Business and Human Rights”. Based on an evaluation and a request from participants the focus this year is on “international Civil and Political Rights”. Previous years the course has been offered in English, but with an increased pool of Cambodian human rights experts, the Academy this year is offered in Khmer to allow non-speaking Cambodian University teachers to attend.
“It is fascinating to see that some of the experts we use in the Academy this year, were themselves participants in the Academy in 2013 and 2014,” says Mr. Ljungholm.
In total, 14 participants affiliated with numerous Cambodian Universities attend the one-week Academy this year, which not only includes topics related to International Civil and political Rights, but also sessions on Teaching Methodologies, Curricula Development, etc. At the end of the Academy each participant will have developed their own class/seminar/course to be offered at their home universities.