In a baseline study recently published by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University and the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), 74.5% of the Case 002 Civil Parties surveyed answered that the ECCC is doing enough for the victims of Khmer Rouge.
The survey indicates that Civil Parties have a largely favorable impression of the ECCC and the ongoing proceedings. Below are some of the responses from the Civil Parties:
- 95.2 % believe ECCC will bring justice to victims and/or family
- 91.5 % believe ECCC will promote national reconciliation
- 88.8 % believe ECCC is neutral
- 88.8 % believe the ECCC judges are fair
- 74.8 % say they would spend money on ECCC even if they could choose to spend the money on something else
- 74.5 % say ECCC is doing enough for the victims of the Khmer Rouge Regime
When asked about their motivation to participate, as Civil Party in Case 002, 70.1% answered it was to get justice for loved ones.
You can download the whole report from the survey here:
http://www.eccc.gov.kh/sites/default/files/Victims-participation-before-ECCC-Baseline-Study-Jan-2013.pdf
The results in the survey are based on interviews with 120 Civil Party Representatives and a random sample of 294 Civil Parties from a list of 1,058 ADHOC-assisted Civil Parties in Case 002. At the time the 1,058 Civil Parties amounted to 49.3 % of the Case 002 Civil Parties. The results from the survey may therefore be a representative for the view of all Civil Parties in Case 002.
The ECCC is the first court trying international mass crimes that provides an opportunity for victims to participate directly in the trial proceedings as Civil Parties.Civil Parties are parties in the proceedings against accused persons being prosecuted before the ECCC, and they enjoy rights broadly similar to the prosecution and the defence. Civil Parties can seek collective and moral reparations, but no individual monetary compensation can be awarded.
Any person, who can demonstrate that he or she has suffered physical, material or psychological injury as a direct consequence of at least one of the crimes prosecuted before the ECCC, may apply to become a Civil Party. Civil Parties have the right to be represented by Civil Party Lawyers during the investigative phase and throughout the proceedings. During the trial phase and beyond, two Civil Party Lead Co-Lawyers are coordinating the legal representation of all Civil Parties, who at this stage of the proceedings forms a consolidated group.