Kreung Ethnicity - United Nations in Cambodia

In 2006, the project conducted a case study on ‘Indigenous Traditional Legal
Systems and Conflict Resolution in Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri Provinces 1 ’,
which found that traditional dispute resolution mechanisms play an important
role in solving conflict within indigenous communities. One of the recommendations
was to support an ongoing process of consultation, research and
documentation with Indigenous Peoples’ communities, with the ultimate goal
of building agreement on how traditional systems can be best recognised by
the formal system and how the interface between the two could function.
As a result, the project has assisted six indigenous communities to compile
their customary rules to assist in recommending to the government to
acknowledge Indigenous Peoples’ traditional dispute resolution mechanisms
and customary rules. This set of six books is the product of this work and an
analysis as to what extent each of these rules complies with fundamental
international or national human rights norms will follow. It is hoped that this
will provide indigenous organisations and networks with a strong basis with
which to advocate for the recognition of traditional rules and practices that
are specific to community needs and that do not contradict national or
international norms. At the same time, indigenous people will be strongly
encouraged to abandon those rules that seriously contradict fundamental
human rights norms or which affect public order or national security.
1
A case study of indigenous traditional legal systems and conflict resolution in Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri
Provinces, Jeremy Ironside, 2007, published by UNDP Cambodia in collaboration with the Royal
Government of Cambodia.
iv
Kameng village, Rattanakiri province