The Burma/Myanmar civil society organization (CSO) country visit to Cambodia took place from 13 to 17 December 2016 in the cities of Siem Reap ,Poi Pet and Battambang. The Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center (CWCC) – one of MMN’s member organizations – hosted participants during the five-day visit.
The country visit participants included eight individuals representing seven CSOs based in different states and regions across Burma/Myanmar, including: 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, Foundation for Education and Development (FED), Joint Action Committee for Burma Affairs (JACBA), Northern Shan State Baptist Convention (NSSBC), WE Generation Network, Tavoyan Women’s Union (TWU), and Karen Baptist Convention (KBC).
The objective of the visit was for CSO representatives from Burma/Myanmar to gain a better understanding of labour migration processes from government representatives and CSOs working to support migrant rights in a country of origin. The visit provided participants with the opportunity to engage in informative discussions with Cambodian government officials, including representatives from the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Committee for Counter Trafficking and officials managing the Battambang Migrant Resource Center (MRC). Participants also interacting with like-minded CSOs, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations including: Civil Volunteer Group (GVC), Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Krousar Thmey (New Family), Cambodian Hope Organization (CHO), Damnok Toek (Drop of Water), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In Cambodia, Burma/Myanmar CSO delegates learned about national policies regarding labour rights, migrant rights, and the regulation of recruitment agencies. Based on discussions, participants claimed that the Cambodian Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training’s labour migration policies are more comprehensive than similar policies in Burma/Myanmar. After speaking with representatives from the Battambang MRC, they also believed that Cambodian policies regulating recruitment agencies better protect migrant workers than Myanmar policies.
The visit instilled in participants a better understanding of the significance of effective labour migration policies enacted in countries of origin. Some of the participating organizations expressed that they will use the information they gained from the Cambodia country visit to advocate for the Myanmar Government to change national migration and labour laws. It is hoped that such visits will allow partnerships between Burma/Myanmar and Cambodian CSOs to develop and strengthen to better advocate for the rights of migrants across the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
Please find here for the full report: Country Visit Cambodia Report