Rights group calls for speedy issuance of collective land titles to indigenous peoples

The CCHR calls on the government of Cambodia to resolve its commitment to speed up the registration of collective land titles for indigenous communities and solve issues. To protect their cultural identity and traditional land, they are registering their communal land. The request comes during today’s World Indigenous Day celebrations in indigenous communities.

Indigenous groups with only 18 collective land titles received 37 collective land titles from 2011 to July 2022. Given that the Cambodian government is devoted to expediting indigenous peoples’ land registration, it has been offered since 2017. This is based on data from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights for the 28th international indigenous peoples’ day and the 18th for Cambodia, both of which were celebrated on August 9.

In order to safeguard indigenous communities’ cultural identity and customary lands, a local rights group calls on the government of Cambodia to resolve its commitment to expedite the registration of collective land titles for them.

Delays in issuing collective land titles to indigenous peoples are a concern for their communities, as deforestation has been caused by development projects such as dams and economic land concessions. Affects Cambodian indigenous populations because they rely on non-timber forest products. Additionally, deforestation has a significant impact on the culture and customs of indigenous peoples. Ms. Thip Yao, the Representative of Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia, announced this in celebration of World Indigenous Day.

Cambodia is home to approximately 400 000 indigenous peoples, or 2% to 3% of the overall population. There are 458 communities representing 24 different ethnic groupings among them, spread throughout 15 provinces.

According to human rights organizations, the delayed pace of collective land registration is a result of its complexity and expense.