Programs & Events
Promoting Human Rights through Radio Dramas
Oreusei Leu village, Banteay Meanchey Province
May 11, 2007
As part of the USAID-funded "Project on Rights and Justice", Equal Access designs, produces and broadcasts two innovative radio shows through its satellite radio channel "Our Community Voice" (Somleng Sahakum Yeurng) to remote Cambodian communities provided with satellite receivers. The two shows are: "The Future is in Your Hands" (Anakut Knong Dai Nyek), the flagship serial drama and magazine radio series in Cambodia, which addresses issues of safe migration, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and sustainable livelihoods; and "Our Peaceful Boundaries" (Prum Dei Sok San), a mini-drama radio series that educates Cambodians about land registration, the importance of legal ownership, types of land concessions, and handling land disputes. Rebroadcasts through a network of FM radio stations extends program coverage across Cambodia. Since 2005, USAID has provided nearly $570,000 for this programming.
Equal Access has established outreach sites in 75 village communities throughout Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Prey Veng, Kompong Cham and Kratie provinces. Each site was provided with a satellite radio receiver, and community leaders were trained to organize and facilitate weekly listening and discussion groups around the radio broadcasts, inspiring communities to take collective action to improve their lives. Through a simple assessment process, these groups provide ongoing feedback for the storylines of the dramas and topics of the magazine shows, as well as valuable data to measure the impact of this information on the lives of Cambodians.
Recently, U.S. Ambassador Joseph A. Mussomeli visited the listening group in Oreusei Leu village near Poipet. In speaking with the villagers, the Ambassador stated, "This is a unique program for the American government to fund. Usually we focus on helping people to protect their rights, but there is no point in trying to protect your rights until you know what they are. This radio program helps explain to you exactly what your rights are. That's the first step toward having a good life. If we remain ignorant of what our rights are, and if we're not educated as to what we should do to protect ourselves, then people who are more powerful will always take advantage of us. So the Equal Access programming is very good, especially the new program on land. It helps people know how to register their land, how to protect it from being grabbed by other more powerful people, and how to live in a more secure way."
Equal Access, an international development communications organization, combines innovative media programming with direct community outreach to empower individuals and communities with the information and education they need to improve their lives. In 2005, the organization established Equal Access Cambodia with offices in Phnom Penh. Equal Access programs, through "Our Community Voice" and through FM partner stations, have a potential broadcast reach of 10 million people or 80% of the Cambodian population.