FEATURE:
EWMI SUPPORTS PILOT COMMUNITY LAND DOCUMENTATION PROGRAMS
IN CAMBODIA

The uncertainty that has historically surrounded land issues in Cambodia is exacerbated by the lack of documentation of government land distributions and other land transactions that has left citizens with little or no official proof that they are in lawful possession of their land. As part of its Safeguarding Cambodians’ Land Rights project, EWMI is supporting two model community land documentation programs to help communities in Pursat and Kompong Thom provinces document and preserve their land use and occupation history. Implemented by local NGO partners – Alliance Association for Rural Restoration (AARR) and Buddhism for Development Kampong Thom (BFDK), the projects are expected to improve citizens’ prospects of gaining title to their land when the ongoing government land registration process is implemented in their community.

The land documentation programs were initiated through planning meetings with local authorities and community meetings to inform local residents about the project and provide them with basic land law information. As part of this information campaign, EWMI and its local partners held movie nights in the target villages in which “Our Land,” a film focusing on peaceful dispute resolution, was shown. The movie nights also included puppet shows, quiz contests and other public awareness activities.

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