KHMERS KAMPUCHEA-KROM FEDERATION ASIA – AUSTRALIA – EUROPE – NORTH AMERICA KKF P.O. Box 0193 Pennsauken NJ 08110 Tel: (856) 655-3838 http://www.khmerkrom.org email:kapucheakrom@gmail.com Madam President, A meaningful and effective participation in the implementation of economic and development policies include: 1. Free and informed consent on policies affecting minorities. Minorities should be involved in all stages of the decision-making process in order to guarantee their full participation. For us, the Khmers from Kampuchea Krom (southern Vietnam), this means receiving leaflets or information sessions held in Khmer in pagodas and during community celebrations, so that our people is aware of any measure that influences their lifestyle and livelihoods. 2. Minorities should receive their share of the income from rice plantations, mineral resources such as oil or gas exploitations, and also from tourism in their regions. 3. Season workers in the cities and abroad need a social system that supports them, through public health, language, housing, care centers for preschool children or schools for their children in order to decrease the high drop out rate. Thank you Madam President.