UN Analysis Final.pdf - United Nations in Cambodia

Youth political participation is still very low (COMFREL, 2008). The election monitoring organization,
COMFREL, notes that students with university-level education still do not pay much attention to voting,
stating that they register only because their parents encourage them to or because they are following the
example of others. This seems to stem from a lack of encouragement, especially to girls, to engage in politics.
Additionally, the Government does not allow political discussions and meetings in schools, because
they are seen as neutral areas in which politics has no place (Yong 2005). This poses a constraint on young
people gaining a critical political orientation or developing informed opinions.
Where deeper participation in the electoral process is sought, engagement is said to occur through the
youth wings of the three main political parties (the Cambodian People’s Party, FUNCINPEC and the
Sam Rainsy Party) (Yong 2005). The first youth party, the Khmer Front Party, was formed in 2002. With
students and young adults in its constituency, it has organized campaigns and demonstrations and
sent petition letters on a number of key issues to high-ranking officials, including the King (Yong 2005).
Young people’s political expression has also been evident in media campaigns, the lobbying of political
leaders, and taking part in and helping to organize demonstrations and public forums arranged by
youth-focused NGOs (Yong 2005). Additionally, youth groups and associations have made conspicuous
their commitment to influence the Cambodian society by reaching and working with individuals or groups
within their villages, communes, districts or provinces. Support for such political engagement by youth
comes from a number of international organizations and donors, including: the National Democratic
Institute and the International Republican Institute, which conduct training for youth affiliates of the political
parties; and Forum Syd and EED, which help pave the way for the greater visibility of young people outside
the political parties.
8.4 POLICY AND PROGRAMMING IMPLICATIONS
There are positive factors in Cambodia which support opportunities for youth to participate meaningfully
in social and political development processes. A key area that could provide a major opportunity for youth
participation is the Government’s current decentralization and deconcentration effort, which would afford
young people a chance to become involved in the local development process. It also brings about
opportunities for youth to participate as contractors for local government tenders for public works, such
as the construction of roads, local bridges, schools and markets, and will allow them to become organized
and be recognised by the local authorities.
However, major hurdles that need to be overcome are those related to the idea that participation and
leadership should come with age, knowledge and experience. The tendency to listen to youth and
address their needs tends to be (1) limited to specific issues (such as violence and drug use) and only
when they emerge as local concerns to elders. Or they tend to be (2) one-time interventions that respond
to an immediate visible problem. A rudimentary understanding of the concepts of governance, democracy
and the importance of youth participation in development is an added complication for youth and for
leaders alike. Local (and national) leaders need to be at the forefront of embracing youth in all development
endeavours. Capacity building and learning experiences should therefore include those who can influence
and mentor young people to become active participants in their own development. Critical to this would be
support to basic social institutions such as the family, the school, and community (pagodas, local leadership
groups) that shape young people’s perspectives.
94 Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia