This is the Plenary Presentation of CheyLeaphy Heng, Program Team Manager, Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK) on the plenary topic: "UPR as an advocacy strategy for SOGIE-SC issues in Cambodia". This presentation was part of the 14th session of #APCRSHR10 Virtual, on the theme of "Sexual orientation and gender identity and SRHR in Asia Pacific". Chair: Dr Chivorn Var, Convener of APCRSHR10 and Executive Director of Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC) Plenary Speaker: CheyLeaphy Heng, Program Team Manager, Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK) | "UPR as an advocacy strategy for SOGIE-SC issues in Cambodia" ABSTRACT PRESENTERS: * Saroj Tamang | Male-to-Female Transgender Community barrier and challenges in access of Sexual Health Services * Saritha P Viswan | A review of transgender issues in India * Sobo Malik | Limited Access to Health Rights Resulting in Increase Self Medication * Ciptasari Prabhawanti | Sexual Identity, Sexual Orientation, Sexual Risk and Condom Use Behaviors of Clients of Transgender Sex Workers in Jakarta, Indonesia For further information, visit www.bit.ly/apcrshr10virtual14 Conference website: www.apcrshr10cambodia.org or check out www.bit.ly/apcrshr10virtual Thanks

1. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
UPR As An Advocacy
Strategy For SOGIESC
Issues In Cambodia
HENG Cheyleaphy
Program Team Manager, RoCK
Presenting on behalf of RoCK Team

2. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
• SOGIE-SC issues in Cambodia &
nature of RoCK work
• UPR as an advocacy strategy: what is
UPR? Why we use it and how?
• Cambodia 3rd cycle UPR on
SOGIESC
• Lesson learnt
CONTENT

3. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
SOGIESC Issues In Cambodia
-95% practice Theravada
Buddhism (Ministry of Cult
and Religion, 2018)
-89% of straight : Being LGBT
is their nature (n=1085)
(RoCK, 2015)
• Rejection in the family:
(RoCK, 2019)
• 81% of LBT people
(n=61) under 35 years,
faced emotional
violence & 35% have
thought
about/attempted suicide
• Social:
• Bully at school
(CCHR,2015)
• Trans women
experienced
Harassment at Public
and workplace (CCHR,
2016),
• Absence of legal
recognition of self-defined
gender identity
• Absence of marriage
equality law
• Denial of full adoption
rights for rainbow couples
• Absence of anti-
discrimination law
Cultural & Religion
tolerance:
Prioritized issues: Lack of Legal
Protection

4. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
Community and
Membership based
Nature Of RoCK Work
• Collective participation & well informed
decision making processes & actions
• 2000+ Members around Cambodia,
with 20 active members who are all able
to use their voices in the Regular
meeting & Bi-annual General Assembly

5. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
Awareness & Advocacy
Nature Of RoCK Work
Change Heart/Mind and Changed Law
• Evidence based, Human Rights based and pro-active
• Yet, Cultural-arts, languages & narrative: positive stories
to communicate + organise + sensitise + bring visibility

6. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
UPR As An Advocacy
Strategy :
Nature of this mechanism:
more of state-own (integrity & commitment)
and peers reminders + assistance
CSOs as cooperation
Universal : Every UN member reviewed,
Transparent and Open dialogue
Periodic: every 4.5 , 3rd cycle (2019-2023)
Review: on Human Rights situation by
stakeholders (report by State & UN & CSO)
Why we use it
What is UPR

7. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
• Cambodia’s 2nd circle UPR (2014-2018)
• No recommendations were made to RGC on the rights of
LGBT+ people
• Only 2 recommendations made by Uruguay addressed
SRHR which were partially implemented.
• 1st time coalition lead by local CSOs working on LGBT+
rights brings those issues to the UPR
Background on SOGIESC-SRHR in Cambodia’s UPR

8. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
PROCESS
learn and
understand key
concept &
function of the
mechanism
Orient & consults
with our members
Joint
workshop to
write joint
report
submission
Consult with members
prioritising issues and
recommendations
Consult with other CSOs
Submit joint report
Pre-session:
Advocate in-
country & Geneva
State Review & Accept
recommendations
2017-2018
Mid 2018
End of 2018
Jan 2019

9. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
PROCESS

10. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
SOGIE rights = human rights = visibility (7 states
recommended)

11. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
SOGIE rights = human rights = visibility (7 states
recommended)

12. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
HOW: PROCESS
learn and
understand key
concept &
function of the
mechanism
Orient & consults
with our members
Joint
workshop to
write joint
report
submission
Consult with members
prioritising issues and
recommendations
Consult with other CSOs
Submit joint report
Pre-session:
Advocate in-
country & Geneva
What has been happening? – Coalition shared role and
responsibility on action plan for implementing recommendations:
continue dialogue, lobby, advocate, follow-up with RGC
State Review & Accept
recommendations
2018
Mid 2018
End of 2018
Jan 2019
2020

13. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )

14. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
• Consultative & informed processes on issues + needs +
importance of the UPR (LGBT+ communities +
governments)
• Roles of local, regional and international
organisations/allies (facilitation + coordination +
assistance)
• Legitimacy [Logical & rational] for ongoing local and
national advocacy actions
Lesson learnt

15. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
Link references
Cambodia UPR 3rd cycle on SOGIESC/SRHR: https://rockcambodia.org/cambodia-3rd-cycle-of-universal-periodic-review-upr-on-sogiesc-srhr/Resources:
Cambodian Center for Human Rights. (2019). The right to non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity
and expression and sex characteristics in employment in Cambodia. Retrieved
from https://cchrcambodia.org/index_old.php?url=project_page/project_page.php&p=report_detail.php&reid=139&id=3
Cambodian Center for Human Rights. (2016). Discrimination against transgender women in urban center. Retrieved
from https://cchrcambodia.org/index_old.php?url=project_page/project_page.php&p=report_detail.php&reid=115&id=3
Rainbow Community Kampuchea. (2019). Family violence towards lesbian, bisexual, and transgender man (LBT) people in
Cambodia. Retrieved from https://www.rockcambodia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Family-Violence-LBT_ENG-
19.06.2019.pdf
Rainbow Community Kampuchea. (2015). Opinions, attitudes and behavior toward LGBT population in Cambodia. Retrieved
from https://www.rockcambodia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TNS-Research-Report-on-Opinions-Attitudes-and-
Behavior-toward-the-LGBT-Population-in-Cambodia.pdf
SOGIE Coalition Cambodia. (2018). Cambodia UPR 3rd cycle on SOGIESC/SRHR. Retrieved
from https://rockcambodia.org/cambodia-3rd-cycle-of-universal-periodic-review-upr-on-sogiesc-srhr/
U.S. Embassy in Cambodia. (2020). 2019 report on international religious freedom: Cambodia. Retrieved
from https://kh.usembassy.gov/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom-cambodia/

16. R A I N B O W C O M M U N I T Y K A M P U C H E A ( R o C K )
ROCK Social Media:
www.rockcambodia.org
www.facebook.com/RoCKHMERLGBT2009
Twitter: @rockcambodia
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVgz-ms-
xTUlbXsD16_Cj0Q
THANK YOU!