Cambodia IDAHO Report 2013

LGBT activists organized a series of new events in the capital, Phnom Penh, to mark International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013 and Cambodian Pride Week. Workshops were organised on ‘Coming Out because we are not wrong!’ and ‘The beginnings of accepting LGBT rights’. Human rights lawyers also ran capacitation sessions on how people can protect themselves from rights violations, and examining how the anti-trafficking law is being used against lesbians, amongst other issues. A Pride Community Day, blessing ceremony, sports day and an evening concert of LGBT performances also marked the year’s commemorations.

The national LGBT Network, Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK), led the organisational efforts around May 17 in the capital, Phnom Penh, to mark Cambodia’s Pride Week, May 12th – 19th, and also the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013.
The schedule for the RoCK-organised part of Pride Week which targeted the Cambodian LGBT community, particularly from the provinces, was as follows:
* 15th May – Travel day to Phnom Penh
* 16th May – Coming Out because we are not wrong! A workshop aimed at strengthening the community’s ability to speak up for themselves and explain who they are, and also to know the pace at which to do that- it will take time to come out!
The information leaflets were presented, explained, explored and shared.
* 17th May – IDAHO – The beginnings of accepting LGBT rights – A workshop featuring local authorities, police and human rights lawyers who support LGBT rights; highlighting Hun Sen’s speech of 11th December 2012 which strongly supports LGBT rights as human rights; getting advice from the authorities and police about how to protect yourself and how to explain yourself in a respectful way; exploring sexual harassment faced by LGBT once they are arrested or interact with the police or authorities; learning concrete ways to protect ourselves from these risks.
* 18th May – Learning to protect ourselves from rights violations- A workshop led by a human rights lawyer examining how the anti-trafficking law is being used against lesbians; exploring how the commune safety policy is being used against LGBT; learning concrete ways to protect ourselves from these risks.
* 19th May – Pride Community Day: Blessing ceremony, Sports Day and an evening concert of LGBT performances.
* 20th May – Travel back to the provinces.

Pictures from Phnom Penh:

For more information:

• RoCK blog: http://rockhmerlgbt.wordpress.com/
• RoCK on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RoCKHMERLGBT2009/