SISHA’s Youth Legal Rights Program teaches 30 youths about their fundamental rights

May 24, 2011

PHNOM PENH – CAMBODIA SISHA’s third session of the Youth Legal Rights Project is currently underway. The ultimate goal of this project is to ensure that disadvantaged youths will be empowered to make informed and logical decisions regarding legal, political, social and cultural matters. By the end of this eight-week adventure, students are equipped with the knowledge and life skills necessary to protect themselves and their peers against human trafficking, to confidently assert their legal rights, and to develop a greater appreciation for the rule of law.

The course is being offered to 30 students living near a dump site in Phnom Penh and is facilitated by one of SISHA’s highly skilled legal assistants, Kagna Keo. Each week students learn about and discuss issues relating to the following topics:

• The importance of laws
• The legal System in Cambodia
• Human Trafficking
• Domestic Violence
• Drug Abuse
• Safe Migration
• Human Rights

When asked about whether or not the course is making a positive impact, one student said, “I would like to study youth legal rights course because I can get more knowledge related to law and rights and I can protect myself from human trafficking. I can share this knowledge to other people, to my family, my neighbour, and my relatives. In my future I would like to be a lawyer so this course is basic knowledge for my future.”

Overall, the students expressed how important it is for them to be learning about human trafficking in particular because it is such a prominent issue in Cambodia. The skills that are being taught are necessary for the children’s empowerment. They are meant to serve as a foundation for successful and independent citizenship. Being exposed to the facts now will not only help to prevent the boys and girls from becoming future victims, but will significantly affect their community as a whole.

SISHA would like extend a warmest appreciation to Ms Wu Ye, without her sponsorship this project would not have been possible.

You can demonstrate your support to the Youth Legal Rights Program and its students by donating to SISHA