The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a transformative agenda to guide global efforts toward sustainable development by 2030. While progress has been made in implementing the SDGs, indigenous peoples and marginalized communities still need to be made aware of these goals and are at risk of being left behind. One such community is the indigenous Khmer-Krom community residing in Kampuchea-Krom, the Khmer name for the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam. The Khmer-Krom face unique challenges in accessing information and participating in SDG implementation, primarily due to restrictions on their political freedoms and limited opportunities to form independent organizations that can monitor progress.
To ensure the meaningful inclusion of the Khmer-Krom community in SDG implementation, it is crucial to adopt an inclusive approach that acknowledges their specific cultural, economic, and environmental circumstances while respecting their fundamental human rights, including the right to self-determination and the preservation of their cultural heritage.
At the forefront of advocating for the rights of the Khmer-Krom community is the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federations (KKF), an organization dedicated to representing the voiceless Khmer-Krom and promoting their human rights and self-determination. Through their tireless advocacy efforts, the KKF has played a vital and meaningful role in raising awareness of the SDGs among the indigenous Khmer-Krom community and ensuring their active participation in the implementation process.
As the most economically disadvantaged group in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, the Khmer- Krom community faces multiple challenges in achieving sustainable development, including but not limited to the failure of Vietnam to recognize the Khmer-Krom as Indigenous Peoples.