Introduction
Star Kampuchea is a Cambodian non-profit and non-partisan organization. It was established in August 1997 and is dedicated to building democracy by strengthening civil society. The official name of the organization in Khmer is SDAR Kampuchea, which means “Rebuilding Cambodia”. In English the name is written as STAR Kampuchea, which refers to the Cambodian Constitution as a “Guiding Star” for the country and our work.

Since it was founded, STAR Kampuchea has become a well-known and respected organization with a solid reputation among civil society organizations, government bodies and donors. Thousands of people and hundreds of NGOs have benefited from its activities.

As an advocacy network and service organization, STAR Kampuchea has established close cooperation with 39 officially affiliated NGOs in six provinces and coordinates four Provincial NGO Networks , which are working on advocacy issues at a grassroots level. STAR Kampuchea also addresses the labor movement as a strong civil society organization.

STAR Kampuchea’s keyword is advocacy, the “organized efforts and actions that use the instruments of democracy to establish and implement laws and policies that will create a just and equitable society” (Definition of the Advocacy Institute, Washington, D.C.). Advocacy activities should strengthen democracy, the respect for human rights and civil society on the basis of the rule of law.

STAR Kampuchea’s advocacy strategy aims to address as many organizations and Cambodian citizens as possible in order to integrate them in Cambodian legislative processes and to raise awareness of Cambodian legislation. To reach this objective, numerous forums and workshops are conducted to bring the authorities and local people into closer contact. All public events are linked to current political events and development. The participants learn about the legislation on the basis of their own experience and needs. They gain advocacy skills and learn about the advantage of networking and citizen’s participation. As a result recommendations can be developed which take the needs and interests of local people into account.

Furthermore STAR Kampuchea offers training and extensive organizational and financial support to build strong and dynamic civil society organizations. It offers the organizations the opportunity to contact with each other, to exchange information and to build up networks.

All activities are carried out together with the Cooperating Organizations and the Provincial Advocacy Networks. They are accompanied by extensive public relations, information and networking activities.

In accordance with the Code of Ethics for NGOs and People’s Organizations, STAR Kampuchea ensures fundamental democratic standards within the organization itself, in its programs and in cooperation with partners and other civil society organizations. The management aims to strengthen accountability, transparency and professionalism.

STAR Kampuchea and its Cooperating Organizations intend women’s empowerment to play an equal role in the country’s civil society movement and its political affairs. Therefore STAR Kampuchea and its Cooperating Organizations give priority to female participants in the skill-building activities and are always on the look-out for successful waysof realizing this objective, especially on the local level.

By the end of 2004, STAR Kampuchea had 20 employees: 8 female and 12 male. 10 volunteers, (4 female and 6 male) worked in different positions within the organization in 2004.