I spent two weeks in Phnom Penh for a training course. We talked about Equality and Human Rights of women in South East Asia. It was a good time to learn and share with 24 friends from 9 countires. The internatinal , regional and domestic mechanisms were learnt and share together too. I was missing my friends in the villages as such mechanisms were very faraway from them.
We agreed that attitue, belief, socilal norms, tradition under particular culture play very important role on working with the term " Human Rights". Then the challenge is how to integrate them into the local mechanisms effectively to promote the Human Rights in the villages and communities. Some friends did say " It should start from ourselves" and I liked their ideas. But "how to.... ?" is an inresting question we have to think about !
I have found it was good not mentioned about the term of "Human Right" much during our working together. Their participation in the process of working together to access basic needs already reflect the Human Rights in practical.
Working together in the IDPs villages still need more time more understanding and more attempts. However it is a very important starting point. I do belief in civil society movements and the butterfly effect. Just keep trying.
