CIVICUS: Center for Cambodian Civic Education ("CIVICUS Cambodia") is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy and reconciliation in Cambodia and the larger, globalized world.
Up to now, Cambodia has had only a society of "subjects" and “survivors”, not of “representatives” nor “citizens”. We have been "subjects" of French colonialism, Japanese/Vietnamese occupation, neo-colonialism, the monarchy, and now fascism/anarchy under the guise of liberal democracy; the Khmer Rouge made us "survivors". A Cambodian as a survivor is either a “survivor-authoritarian” if the person is in a position of power or a “survivor-subject” if the common person.
CIVICUS Cambodia defines a "citizen" as a Cambodian who possesses both rights and responsibilities, and our focus starts with young children in educating them not only of their inherent rights but of their civic responsibilities to each other. We also engage with the rest of the population to inform about and encourage them on exercising meaningful citizenship.
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is a major component of CIVICUS Cambodia.
"Reconciliation is the re-stitching of relationships in a very broken society like Cambodia - individuals with individuals, groups with groups, citizens with the state, citizens with institutions (the building of civic trust). It necessitates a very comprehensive process of not only legitimate prosecution (e.g. the opportunity squandered by the Khmer Rouge Tribunal) but dialogue (e.g. forums we conducted all over Cambodia on "Justice and Reconciliation", deemed Cambodia's informal truth and reconciliation commission, which give voice to victims, survivors, perpetrators with the line between "victim" and " perpetrator "oftentimes indistinguishable), truth telling (as truth is a pre-condition of justice and peace a dividend), education, memorials (with honor and diverse stakeholders), reparations (that is genuine and practicable) etc. Peace as "shalom" (or, flourishing) entails both the absence of conflict and the presence of justice. Deceit can never be spun into justice, no matter how sophisticated the spin."
- CIVICUS Cambodia founding president Theary C. Seng
CIVICUS Cambodia is a partner of the Speak Truth To Power (in Khmer, Courage Without Borders) project of the RFK Center in Cambodia, funded by The Charitable Foundation (Australia).
