On 10th January 2013, in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development in Ratanakiri province, Development and Partnership in Action (DPA) organised a public forum, entitled “Participatory to Promote the Implementation of National Policy on the Development of Indigenous People”, supported financially by the European Community (EC) and Trocaire.

The public forum was held at Ratanak Lina restaurant in Ratanakiri province for 113 participants under the presidency of H.E. Nab Bunheng, deputy provincial governor of Ratanakiri province.

The aims of the forum included: (1) Promoting understanding of community awareness for the government’s effort in promoting and caring for the indigenous community; (2) Strengthening good collaboration between local authorities and communities in working together on development work and providing opportunities for the community to take part in natural resource management and community development work and; (3) Identifying additional problems and seeking suitable solutions to reduce the concerns of the community.

According to Mr. Mam Sambath, DPA’s Executive Director, “DPA has been working in Ratanakiri in integrated community development work since 1987 and this work included food security, capacity building for the community, health education, natural resource management and promotion of indigenous people’s rights. All these activities were done to address the National Development Strategy 2009-2013 and the National Policy on the Development of Indigenous People as well as other national policies of the Royal Government of Cambodia.”

H.E. Nab Bunheng said “The Cambodian Government has continued to take care of and promote indigenous communities by giving them opportunities and rights to express their concerns so they would be able to actively participate in social development.”