| SPD | PEA | CS | SP | RGN |

The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) is limited in both its commitment and capacity in developing strategic responses to the problems associated with the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. The SPD Unit works primarily for long-term commitment, effective policy, and strategic development on small arms and security from the Cambodian government. In particular, the SPD Unit seeks further commitments from the National Commission to develop a clear strategy and action plan for implementing small arms and light weapons reduction plans. The Unit will cooperate with the RGC and other civil organizations in order to build and support national structures, policies and action plans for effective weapons reduction and management. Information sharing will further raise local and international awareness on SALW issues in Cambodia; thereby broadening support for continued weapons reduction.

GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
The overall aim of the SPD Unit is to assist the RGC to improve and create a clear policy and strategy on small arms and security with effective implementation. Specific objectives include:

1. To increase the understanding of the causes and consequences of armed violence, the nature and extent of SALW proliferation in Cambodian communities through action research
2. To strengthen the National Commission on small arms and security by providing information and recommendations on strategies for SALW issues in Cambodia.
3. To facilitate discussion with RGC bodies responsible for the management of SALW, promoting the development of practical responses to the issue by providing local and national forums and opportunities for exchange.
4. To develop various advocacy materials on the issues related to small arms and security in Cambodia.

Key Activities include
1. Information on Small Arms Impact in Cambodia: Conduct research about the impact of SALW on Cambodian communities; media monitoring of gun incidents; gathering and studying secondary data and producing a background country report.
2. Supporting the Institutional Capacity of the National Commission (NC): Facilitate and organize meetings and workshops; information sharing on SALW-related issues and experiences; working with the National Commission.
3. Drafting, supporting and monitoring the National Action Plan: Work together and consult the NC and other stakeholders to develop a national strategy and action plan; implementation and verification of the National Action Plan; provide training to stakeholders where necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the NAP implementation.
4. Small Arms and Security Workshops and Conferences: Organize inter-provincial workshops with provincial authorities and civil organizations on SALW and security issues; organize a national conference where the Cambodian government, civil society organizations, and the international community can discuss and develop a national strategic plan to address SALW and security-related issues in Cambodia.
5. Small Arms Advocacy Oriented Action: Develop small arms materials and tools for advocacy; write statements on issues related to small arms and security for advocacy; presentation of the research results and small arms information; increase support for the arms law campaign. For more.....

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Provincial workshop in
Bantey Meanchey Province
May, 2006

It has become common for people to think of guns or other weapons as a first solution to problems. This is evident through the continually reported use of weapons. Attitudes displaying dependence on weapons to solve problems are especially recognizable among young people. The Public Education and Awareness (PEA) Unit is working towards transforming the culture of violence into a culture of peace. There are two main areas of work in this Unit – Peace and Disarmament Education (PDE) in Schools and Small Arms Awareness Campaign (SACA) projects.

GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
To change from a culture of violence to a culture of peace by introducing the concept of peace and disarmament as an integral part of the education system in order to create violence-free schools; and raise awareness on the negative impact of small arms.

Key Activities include:
PDE Project
1. Working with teachers: Continuous Training of teachers and trainers on the relevant issues; a teacher exchange program; peace agent; and support of teachers' initiatives.
2. Peace room: Creating peace rooms in school libraries, developing education materials, and training librarians and support staff.
3. School safety campaign: Promoting forums for dialogue; peace art campaigns; the campaign to ban toy guns; awareness-raising; and student peace talks.
4. Institutional cooperation and support: Meeting with relevant players; peace and disarmament advocacy meetings; and a national workshop.
SACA Project
5. Raise small arms awareness during public holidays: eg. Khmer New Year, Water Festival and Human Rights Day.
6. To organize of mobile traditional performances in communities: eg. Drama, rule plays, question and answers, songs.
 7. Small arms media campaign: support TV programs, radio, comedy programs, and spot productions.
8. Youth and small arms: discussion forum including exchange meetings, supporting youth initiatives and workshops. For more....

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In Cambodia the main reason people still hold on to their weapons is to protect themselves. Despite progress, problems such as small arms circulation, personal insecurity, and revenge continue to endure in Cambodian communities. Moreover, mistrust within community society is deterring progress, partly due to security forces not providing adequate security. The Community Security (CS) Unit will focus on trying to identify, with communities, strategies for increasing security at a local level. This will include cooperation with local security institutions and government authorities. The Unit sees increased security and safety at the local level as the key strategy to address SALW issues in Cambodia

Goal and Objective
The overall goal is to make communities safe from armed violence and to build peaceful communities by eliminating gun violence and gun misuses.

Specific objectives
• increasing public awareness on small arms issues;
• building trust between local authorities and community;
• reducing local availability and demand for arms;
• support and strengthen the capacity of local institutions to address weapons, security and peace in their communities.

Key Activities
• Local public awareness actions on weapons and security. Organize mobile village presentations; develop disarmament education materials (booklet and banners); working with women to ban gun violence; organize forums for young people to dialogue and identify with gun and violence issues in their communities.
• Building trust. Organize community solidarity for peace; organize local forums for villagers and local authorities to discuss on weapons and security issues; facilitate the representatives of community people to meet with local authorities and call for actions on weapons misuses and violence related to guns; encourage police to patrol in the villages
• Local arm law enforcement campaign. Lobby with police, military, and military police for strictly controlling the arms in their hands; develop statements on weapons circulations and its misuses; and organize mobile public displays on the consequences of guns and call for support.
• Local institutional capacity building and support. Develop a training program and train the representatives from local institutions on weapons issues, arms law, and concepts of peace building and alternative dispute resolution; work with local institutions and provide support to strengthen them to work on weapons issues, security and peace building; meetings for integrating with existing local structures on weapons, security and peace; and organization of exchange meetings between the communities. For more....

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WGWR established the Special Project Unit in order to respond to the specific problems or events which are related to small arms, security, peace, and conflict prevention. Such issues may include armed forces demobilization, a Khmer Rouge tribunal, and national and commune elections. These projects are not in the usual course of WGWR's projects but present many opportunities to further WGWR’s vision, mission and goals. The main aim of the Unit is to ensure that the issues related to small arms and security as well as conflict prevention is taken into account, addressed strategically and in a timely manner. The Unit structure enables WGWR to respond to and adapt to particular circumstances in the Cambodian context.

This Unit works on a project to project basis. It is not always operational. The projects can be staffed by cross unit teams of WGWR existing staff or additional staff may be hired for the specific period of the project’s life depending on the needs of the project.

It is likely that one of the possible projects for WGWR under this unit in the coming three year period will be the issues of security and safety around the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. As progress continues to be made towards the establishment of the tribunal and the particular issues become clearer, WGWR will identify its own role in the process and develop appropriate responses and actions.

Such proposals under the Special Project Unit will be funded independently from the overall WGWR Three Year Plan, and will not detract from the existing plan of WGWR’s work.
For more...

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Current research claims that the majority of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is not manufactured in least developed countries such as Cambodia, but originates from industrialized nations such as China, Russia, and the United States as remnants of the Cold War. Moreover, it is discerned that smuggling of SALW is operating through vast interregional channels. These channels cross various borders and are used for drug and human trafficking purposes as well.

Evidently, the SALW problem cannot be remedied through internal governmental legislation alone, but regional governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must work together to build viable mechanisms and realistic solutions that can have an impact on the reduction of arms flow throughout South East Asia.

Goal and objective
WGWR aims to work closely with several key regional and international SALW organizations and institutions to address the issue of regional and global arms trade and production, thus reducing the impact of weapons and armed violence through the following objectives:
• Sharing Cambodia’s experience and lessons learnt on disarmament, security and peace.
• Supporting the development of regional approaches and mechanisms to address the issues of SALW.
• Globally promote the proposed global campaign for an international arms trade treaty (ATT).
• Improving the capacity of civil organizations in Southeast Asia on SALW, community security and peace.

Key Activities
• Regional and International participation:
WGWR staff participate and share Cambodians’ experiences related to disarmament, community security and peace work through meetings, workshops, and conferences at regional and international level.
• Active Membership in FAV and IANSA:
WGWR is a founding member of the Southeast Asia Forum on Arms Violence (FAV) and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). In order to support FAV, WGWR will allocate time and resources to participate in any of FAV’s activities in the Southeast Asian region.
• International Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Development:
a) advocacy work together with Oxfam GB towards the active involvement of the Cambodian government in the ATT development at regional and international level.
b) participation in global Control Arms Campaign.
c) activities related to the Annual Global Week of Action between 1 and 9 July.
• South to South Exchange Program:
Exchange program between three different countries focusing on lessons learnt, problems, and experiences related to SALW, community security, peace building and conflict prevention. For more...

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