Overview

Khmer Buddhist Society in Cambodia (KBSC) was a Cambodia charitable, non-profit organization and was formed to sustain the benefits of Rights Project that has been started since 1993 by the Khmer Buddhist Society in USA and was recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993. After consultation with Ministry of cults and religion and Samdech Preah Sangkareach Tep Vong, KBSC became a localized and registered with the Ministry of Interior in 1997. The KBSC is a NGO implementing the activity of providing training to strengthen the capacity of community leaders such as Buddhist Monk, Nun, Achar, temple committee, and included civil servants to become community lectures and advisors, and community conflict prevention and resolution in such fields as Buddhism and human rights principles, the rule of law, democracy, free and fair election, the basic understanding of community development, the roles of Buddhist monk in community assistance, the roles of civil servant in democracy state, women and children rights, Cambodia existing laws (Constitution, land law, marriage law, criminal law, public order, human exploitation and smuggling).

Background

KBSC has developed three kinds of training curricula on human rights and Buddhism that covered for Buddhist monk, civil servant, and community leader. Topics of the training include Buddhism and human rights concepts, democracy, the rule of law, free and fair election, the role civil servant in democratic state, the role of Buddhist monk in community development and social assistance, environment protection, human rights related to HIV/AIDS, Buddhism within care and support of infected and affected people by HIV/AIDS, the constitution law, land law, marriage law, criminal law, public order, human rights exploitation and smuggling and the best practice to conduct negotiation and conciliation of community conflict etc. From 1994 to 1998 KBSC had trained 10,672 community leaders. In amount of this, it has 9,436 Buddhist community leaders, 60 Nuns and 1176 civil servants (70% men and 30% women) on social work, human rights and Buddhism, democracy, community development, and environment in 21 provinces of Cambodia. The projects were funded by ICCO. From 1999 to 2002, KBSC has been completed the projects of Human Rights and Buddhism, and the project of Human Rights and HIV/AIDS that implemented of conducting training courses in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kg Speu, Kg Chhnang, Prey Veng, Svay Ring, Takeo and Kampot province to build capacity of Buddhist monk leaders, particular the heads of monasteries to integrates them on the human rights-related HIV/AIDS issues and within the Buddhist concepts and principles, aim to equip them as network in communities to provide community members education on non-discrimination against PLHA toward pity and giving care and support from family and community. The project has trained 936 heads of Buddhist monasteries, included Achars and Nuns to be a source of Buddhism and human rights information and included care, support, and consoling–related HIV/AIDS issue in order to reduce stigma and discrimination in those target provinces. The projects were funded by UNOPS through UNCOHCHR, UNCOHCHR, and The POLICY Project Cambodia. In recently, August 2005 to July 2006, KBSC has supported by U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh and implemented this kind of projected of “A Buddhist Response to Community Conflict Resolution” in four province of Preah Vihear (Rovieng and Tbeng meanchey for district) Kratie(Prek Prasop district) Steung Treng( Siem Bok and Thalaborivath district), and Ratanakiri(Koun Mom district). In the period of one year “Buddhist Response to Community Conflict Resolution Project” has been implemented in Rovieng and Tbeng Meanchey of Preah Vikea province, Preak Prasop of Kratie province, Siem Bok and Thalaborivath of Steung Treng province and Koun Mom of Ratanakiri province. Various activities have been done so far: There are 305 community members have been trained by KBSC and form them into 30-commnity-conflict resolution.

Value

N/A

Mission

To strengthen awareness on Buddhism linking to human rights, democracy, environment, community development, social assistance, and supporting for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and their family within the legal framework of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Vision

All human beings in all target areas of KBSC are living in peace, justice, and prosperity.

Goal

N/A