PRESERVING HARMONY, OR PREVENTING JUSTICE?
A study of local dispute resolution practices in cases of domestic and intimate partner violence in Cambodia
What you need to know…
Of many who face violence at the hands of their partners, few seek outside help. For those that do, gender-sensitive services or access to justice are not usually offered. They most often go through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes that include reconciliation, conciliation, or mediation – with the overall goal to stay together with an abusive partner. Local forms of ADR often do not serve the best interest of women and frequently fail to protect them.
What is this research about?
Through cases of domestic and intimate-partner violence that went through local dispute resolution across Cambodia, this research explores the experiences of survivors as well as the perspectives of institutional stakeholders and service providers. It builds upon years of fieldwork by practitioners who have observed substantial problems in local ADR practices in cases of domestic and intimate partner violence. As an action research initiative, it goes further to analyze findings with the specific goal of informing policy and practice with key recommendations on overcoming current issues through a survivor-centered approach.
How was the research carried out?
After a literature, legal, and policy review, researchers used a survey, carried out interviews, and held focus group discussions with a total of 167 people across four Cambodian provinces that all had some form of experience or involvement with local ADR in the scope of domestic and intimate partner violence. They looked at the data they collected and broke it down into different groups who participated (such as women survivors, local authorities, police officers, etc.). By getting familiar with each group, they looked for common themes that could be seen across the answers provided. The data was read a second time and coded into the themes to provide a bigger picture before it was written up in a research report.
This research initiative was led by Suyheang Kry of Women Peace Makers (WPM) and Savath Meas of the Cambodia Center for Mediation (CCM), in collaboration with Kate Seewald of Klahaan and Leang Sok.
Click here for the full research report PRESERVING HARMONY,OR PREVENTING
Click here for the research snapshot in English and Khmer
Click here for the executive summary in Khmer Here
