Adhoc

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is Cambodia's oldest human rights organization. It was founded by a group of former political prisoners in December 1991, shortly after the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements, which put an end to several decades of civil war in Cambodia.

ADHOC operates as an NGO. It sets out to investigate human rights violations in Cambodia, provide free legal assistance, empower citizens and grassroots communities, and engage in advocacy work through its Central Office (located in Phnom Penh) and 22 provincial offices, reaching out to all districts in the country.

ADHOC is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit and non-governmental organization.

ADHOC's first office was in a Buddhist temple in Phnom Penh. It began operating immediately and, with donations, grew rapidly. By 1992, ADHOC had expanded its support for victims of human rights violations, was actively reminding the government of its democratic and legal duties, and was officially registered. In its early years, ADHOC's leaders, some of whom had been imprisoned for peacefully exercising their right to free speech, faced much intimidation by local authorities.

ADHOC maintains offices in an unequaled 22 Cambodian provinces and municipalities, out of 25 (Kep province is covered by ADHOC's office in Kampot) and ADHOC's Kampong Cham office covers the newly created Tboung Khmum province. ADHOC's unique geographical reach enables it to assist victims of human rights abuses across the country. In the last few years, through its sections (the Land and Natural Resources Rights section, the Human Rights Monitoring section and the Women's and Children's Rights section) and its Khmer Rouge Tribunal program, it has been working on issues such as:

ADHOC protest monitors maintain a strong presence Phnom Penh and the provinces. ADHOC witnesses and reports on human rights abuses when they occur, and brings them national and international attention through its advocacy activities.

ADHOC runs an Alternative Dispute Resolution programme in conjunction with Tilberg University in the Netherlands. This innovative programme aims to provide micro-justice to poor and marginalized communities in small-scale conflicts. It has been widely lauded as a success.

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