John Heffernan, H.E. Om Yentieng, Kerry Kennedy, Theary Seng (La Residence, 23 Feb. 2011).  After this luncheon, Senior Minister Om Yentieng in turn invited us to dinner on Friday at Topaz where he expressed his desire to see all the translated materials of Speak Truth To Power be widely disseminated, including through his Cambodian Human Rights Commission.

Public Announcements in KI-Media

Friday, 18 Feb. 2011

Wednesday, 16 Feb. 2011

Friday, 11 Feb. 2011

STTP ("Courage Without Borders") Series

in KI Media

H.E. Mu Sochua generously hosted a reception at her elegant home for Kerry Kennedy and the delegation.  Here, Kerry with Michael Hayes (founder of The Phnom Penh Post), Rong Chhun (president of Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association) and CIVICUS Cambodia Theary Seng (Phnom Penh, 22 Feb. 2011).

MORE PHOTOS . . .

More photos in KI Media Part I, Part II . . .

. . . . .

Final Agenda

of

Seminar Human Rights in Education

The Kennedy Seminar on Human Rights Education,

Photo Exhibition, and Play

Wednesday, 23 February 2011.  3 – 5:30 P.M.

Pannasastra University of Cambodia (PUC) Auditorium

Norodom Blvd.

Agenda

3:00 P.M.         National Anthem: Ms. PHEUN Sreypov, smote chanting, Cambodian Living Arts

3:05                 Introductory Remarks by Ms. Theary C. SENG: CIVICUS Founding President and partner of RFK Center’s Speak Truth to Power (“STTP”) project.

3:10                 Opening Remarks:

-          Dr. KOL Pheng: Senior Minister, Founding Chair, Board of Trustees, Pannasastra University (PUC), Former Minister of Education

-          Ambassador Carol RODLEY:  U.S. Embassy

-          Ms. Kerry KENNEDY: introduces her RFK Center’s Speak Truth To Power project in Cambodia (i) Book, (ii) Photo Exhibition, (iii) Play, (iv) Curriculum.

3:30                 Keynote Address:  H.E. OM Yentieng, Senior Minister, Cambodian Human Rights Committee

3:50                 Honorary Remarks: Professor Surya Subedi, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights

4:00                 Panel Discussion on Human Rights in Education (Moderator: Ms. Theary C. SENG)

-          Ms. Kerry KENNEDY: President of RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights

-          Dr. KEK Galabru: President of LICADHO

-          Father John VISSER:  Director of Don Bosco Cambodia

-          Mr. RONG Chhun: President, Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association

4:50                 Closing Remarks and Introduction of Photo Exhibition and Play (performance on Feb. 24) by Mr. John HEFFERNAN, Director of RFK Center’s STTP.

5:00                 Viewing of Photo Exhibition by Eddie Adams

**  Followed by Press Conference

with Kerry KENNEDY and Theary C. SENG.

Speak Truth To Power: Voices from Beyond the Dark

(the Play)

By Ariel Dorfman based on the book Speak Truth To Power by Ms. Kerry Kennedy.  Performance by Ms. Lesley SAUNDERSON and the Phnom Penh Players.

Thursday, 24 February 2011.  5 – 7 PM.  PUC Auditorium

* Simultaneous translation available.

* The RFK Center’s Speak Truth To Power project in Cambodia is funded by The Charitable Foundation (Australia).

Press Release in English / Khmer

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Ms. EAM Sivnin: +855.17.993.118

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights Brings

Speak Truth To Power to Cambodia

Kerry Kennedy in Phnom Penh to launch Speak Truth To Power

PHNOM PENH, 10 February 2011:  Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, will arrive here on Tuesday, Feb. 22, to launch, through a series of events, the global human rights initiative Speak Truth To Power.

Ms. Kennedy and Phnom Penh-based Theary Seng will join local human rights activists, academics, and dignitaries to introduce Speak Truth To Power (STTP)—a book, play, photo exhibit, and human rights curriculum — to students, teachers, and the public.

Speak Truth To Power, based on Ms. Kennedy’s book of the same name, is a multi-faceted program of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. Its goal is to use the experiences of courageous human rights defenders from around the world to educate students and the public on the significant struggles of our time, such as environmental activism and the fight for equality and democracy, and urge them to act.

The events in Cambodia will include an exhibit by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Eddie Adams;  the play “Speak Truth To Power: Voices from Beyond the Dark,” by Broadway playwright Ariel Dorfman (adapted from Ms. Kennedy’s book), performed by the Phnom Penh Players; and a panel discussion on global human rights issues and the role of human rights in education.

Pannasastra University of Cambodia (PUC) will host the events, which are open to the public, free admission.

Seminar: Human Rights in Education

Wednesday, 23 February 2011, 3 – 5:30 P.M.

PUC Auditorium, Norodom Blvd.

Panel discussion on the role of human rights education and opening of Speak Truth To Power Photography Exhibition.  Followed by a Press Conference and Photo Exhibition.

Keynote address by H.E. OM Yentieng, Senior Minister, Cambodian Human Rights Committee

Remarks by Kerry Kennedy, Theary Seng, U.S. Ambassador Carol Rodley, Dr. Kol Pheng, Dr. Kek Galabru and others.

Representatives from education, legal and other sectors will discuss global human rights and the role of human rights education in Cambodia.

Photography Exhibition

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 following Seminar

The exhibit features portraits of prominent human rights defenders by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Eddie Adams. Launched at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the exhibit has traveled to more than 20 U.S. cities and is currently on a global tour on four continents.

The Play: Speak Truth To Power, Voices from Beyond the Dark

Thursday, 24 February 2011, 5:00 – 7:00 P.M.

PUC Auditorium, Norodom Blvd.

“Speak Truth To Power: Voices From Beyond the Dark,” a play adapted from Kerry Kennedy’s book Speak Truth To Power by Broadway playwright Ariel Dorfman. The play has been staged in cities worldwide, including London, Madrid, Rome, Milan, Sydney and Seoul, and performed by leading actors and students throughout the world. In Cambodia, the play will be performed by the Phnom Penh Players.

# # #

The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights was founded in 1968 by Robert Kennedy’s family and friends as a living memorial to carry forward his vision of a more just and peaceful world. Today the impact of the RFK Center extends around the globe, through cutting-edge programs promoting human rights and social justice and empowering new generations of leaders.

www.rfkcenter.org

CIVICUS: Center for Cambodian Civic Education (“CIVICUS Cambodia”) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational, non-governmental organization registered with the Cambodian Ministry of Interior dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy and reconciliation in Cambodia and the larger, globalized world. Up to now, Cambodia has had only a society of “survivors”, not of “representatives” or “citizens”. Cambodians as survivors are either “survivor-authoritarian” if the person is in a position of power or “survivor-subject” if an average person. The principal goals of CIVICUS Cambodia are to help Cambodian citizens develop (i) an increased understanding of the institutions of Cambodian constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded, (ii) dialogue as a norm of communication, peace-building and reconciliation, (iii) the skills necessary to participate as effective and responsible citizens, and (iv) the willingness and ease to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict. In its engagement of citizens, CIVICUS Cambodia gives a special emphasis to (i) students—from elementary to university level—and the generation born after the Khmer Rouge era, (ii) female (both girls and women) participation, and (iii) elected representatives.

www.civicus-cam.org