The document summarizes the role of a Community Advisor in community negotiations regarding land conflicts in Cambodia. The Community Advisor introduces their role, assists communities in selecting representatives, provides training, helps prepare statements for negotiations, offers support during negotiations, and explains results. They aim to empower communities with knowledge and ensure mutual agreements are reached through mediation. Challenges include language barriers, low literacy, complex land issues, time constraints, and restrictions on NGO activities. Over 15 agreements were reached in initial mediations across 40 conflict locations with lessons around building good faith and mutual understanding between parties.

1. Roles of Community Advisor in
Community Negotiations
By
RUN Saray
Executive Director/lawyer
Legal Aid of Cambodia(LAC)
30 May 2018

2. About Community Advisor
 Legal Aid of Cambodia (‘LAC’) is a non-
government organization that is
independent, non-profit and non-political.
 LAC provides free quality legal aid services, legal
and human rights education, outreach and
advocacy services to Cambodian poor people
since it opened its door in 1996.
 Handled nearly 1000 cases within its last two years
of operation alone.

3. Role of the Community Advisor
Company Mediator Community
Community
Advisor

4. Role of the Community Advisor in the
Mediation
- Introduce and clarify
the role of advisor
- Assist community in
election of
representatives
- Provide Training
- Assist in the
preparation of
statement for
negotiation
- Provide backstopping
to community
- Ensure that
community
representatives can
regroup and reassess
position when
negotiation reach a
deadlock
- Participate and
provide suggestion to
mediator who meets
each party separately
- Explain to
community results
of the mediation
(i.e. interim
settlement
agreement, joint
draft settlement
agreement)
- Conduct training on
land registration and
titling and
enforcement of
agreement, etc.
Pre-mediation
During mediation
Post mediation

5. LAC assisted community members to chose their community
representatives and elderly persons at Pu Lu Village, Busra in November
2017

6. Explaining on Ground Rules and Congeniality of
agreement to community members at Pu Cha Village

7. LAC assisted community members to elect their
community representatives and elderly persons at Pu
Tert Village

8. Outcomes of Mediation
• At least 15 out of 40 different locations of
communal land conflicts were reached
agreement during the first four community
mediations.

9. Lesson learnt
• Mediation cannot be successful without good
faith intents, mutual agreement, and
participation from both parties.
• Empowerment of community representatives
is import for community to have more
confident for negotiation since their
knowledge is lower while the company’s
knowledge is higher.

10. Challenges
• Languages
• Low knowledge of writing and reading
• Many different types of land conflicts and different
land locations may take times for mediation.
• Time constraints
• LAC need repeat /remind community representatives
or community members as whole for many times.
• Law on NGO and Association restricted NGOs rights to
conduct activities in field.

11. Thanks for your attention!
RUN Saray (Mr.)
Legal Aid of Cambodia
#39 ( Borei Ritht), street 516, Tuol Sanke, Reiseikeo
Phnom Penh, Cambodia. ( P.O Box:1197 )
email: lacdirector@online.com.kh
Website: www.lac.org.kh
Run Saray
Executive Director/lawyer
H/P : +855-12 838 341