Donors: USAID through TIC, SDC, BfdW, and DCA
Location: Youth leaders from all 25 provinces and cities across Cambodia.
Duration: October 2019 – August 2021
Budget: Under USD 100,000
Introduction
The “Youth Debates on the Development of the Cambodian Access to Information Law” project empowered 58 youth leaders—including women, persons with disabilities, and indigenous youth—from across Cambodia to engage in meaningful policy dialogue and advocacy. Through training, consultations, and public campaigns, the project amplified youth voices in the legislative process and promoted transparency and accountability in governance. Listen to the debates or watch our project video here.
Results
- Youth Capacity Building
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- 58 youth leaders (28 females, 7 with disabilities, 10 indigenous) trained in advocacy, soft skills, and legal literacy.
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- Participants gained knowledge on human rights, international A2I standards, and how to engage with policymakers.
- Legal Review and Consultations
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- Two consultative workshops were held with 34 youth and CSO leaders to review the draft A2I law.
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- A legal analysis report was submitted to the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Justice, Council of Ministers, National Assembly, and Senate.
- Public Engagement and Media Campaigns
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- A social media and radio campaign reached over 429,000 citizens.
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- 93% of 12,577 survey respondents supported urgent adoption of the A2I law.
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- Youth voices featured in 10 radio talk shows and a 4-minute video, covering A2I in sectors like health, education, environment, and governance.
- Policy Dialogues and Lobbying
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- Two formal dialogues were held with the National Assembly and Senate.
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- Youth presented legal recommendations, influencing proposed revisions to Articles 9, 14, 20, and 29 of the draft law.
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- Meetings with H.E. Meas Sophorn and parliamentary commissions led to commitments to consider youth input in future revisions.
