Working Towards an Access to Information Law in Cambodia:
Bridging the Government and Citizens for Participatory Law-Making
2014-2017
1.1. UNESCO’S WORK ON A2I ALL OVER THE WORLD
Phnom Penh
Office
1.2. A2I LEGISLATION BACKGROUND IN CAMBODIA
Draft Policy
Framework
with the technical
assistance
from USAID and Pact
Phnom Penh
Office
2nd draft on Access to
Information law
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
1st draft on Access to
Information law
Existing draft laws such as the Existing draft laws such as the Model Law on A2I drafted by CSOs, and
an A2I law by the opposition party, the government has indicated a strong wish to draft a new law
1.3. EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Better understanding by everyone of the key role that Access to
Information plays in improving livelihoods
Government accountability and transparency in disclosing
information
Capacity of government officials to draft and pass a participatory
legislation on Access to Information
Capacity of media professionals to provide independent, free and
unbiased investigative reports by exercising their right to
information
Phnom Penh
Office
1.4. OVERVIEW
Phnom Penh
Office
 COMMUNITY FORUMS
 REVISIONS ON DRAFT
 TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP
RECOMMENDATION PAPERS
A2I Draft
Law
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 SECTORAL FORUMS
Overall Objective:
Promote an inclusive and participatory law-making process by bridging the government and
citizens in drafting an Access to Information Law in Cambodia
1.4. OVERVIEW
Phnom Penh
Office
A2I Final
Law
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INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE
MEDIA CAMPAIGN
2.1. COMPOSITION OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP
MINISTRIES
CSOS
UN AGENCIES
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
CHAIR
ADVOCACY AND POLICY
INSTITUTE
(API)
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
CAMBODIAN CENTER
FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA
MINISTRY OF
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY-SENATE
RELATIONS AND INSPECTION
COUNCIL OF JURISTS
(CCIM)
CLUB OF CAMBODIAN
JOURNALISTS
(CCJ)
CAMBODIAN
Phnom Penh
Office
HUMAN RIGHTS
ACTION COMMITTEE
(CHRAC)
DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA
AND COMMUNICATION
UNESCO
OHCHR
2.2. COMPOSITION OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
CHAIR
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
AND FISHERIES
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE
MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND FINE ARTS
MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND FINANCE
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH
MINISTRY OF LABOR
AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
MINISTRY OF POSTS
AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
AND SPORT
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS, VETERANS
AND YOUTH REHABILITATION
MINISTRY OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
COUNCIL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF CAMBODIA
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND HANDICRAFT
NATIONAL BANK OF CAMBODIA
Phnom Penh
Office
2. EXPECTED RESULT 1:
Phnom Penh
Office
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP AND AN INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE
TECHNICAL WORKING
GROUP
 Established by a Memorandum
of Understanding with the
Ministry of Information;
 Meets every two months;
 Gathering Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs), journalist
associations, development
partners including UN.
INTER-MINISTERIAL
COMMITTEE
 Established by a Sub-decree;
 Debate and submit the law to
the Council of Ministers;
 Will meet in year 2 and 3 every
two months to discuss and
debate the draft law.
2.3. TWG AND IC TRAININGS
Phnom Penh
Office
UNESCO and Ministry of Information will assess the training needs of the
members of the Technical Working Group and the Inter-ministerial Committee
and implement trainings to develop an effective legislation.
 The trainings will ensure the high capacity of the members of the Technical
Working Group and the Inter-ministerial Committee
 Trainings will be on concepts of A2I, legislative process in Cambodia,
international/regional standards on A2I and Decentralisation and
Deconcentration.
3. EXPECTED RESULT 2:
Phnom Penh
Office
PARTICIPATORY LAW-MAKING AND
INCREASING DEMAND FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION
COMMUNITY FORUMS
SECTORAL FORUMS
Production of 36 recommendation papers
3.1. COMMUNITY FORUMS
Phnom Penh
Office
5th Region
Siem Reap
Preah Vihear
Oddar Meanchey
Kampong Thom
2nd Region
4th Region
Kratie
Stung Treng
Rattanakiri
Mondulkiri
Tbong Khmum
Battambang
Banteay Meanchey
Pailin
Pursat
Kampong Chhnang
3rd
1st Region
region
Kampong Som
Koh Kong
Kampot
Kep
Kampong Speu
Phnom Penh
Kandal
Prey Veng
Svay Rieng
Takeo
Kampong Cham
Under the project, community forums will be organized in 5 geographical regions over the course of 3
years (total 15 community forums).
3.2. SECTORAL FORUMS
HUMAN RIGHTS
Phnom Penh
Office
ENVIRONMENT/AGRICULTURE
YOUTH
EDUCATION
MEDIA
WOMEN
HEALTH
 Issue-based, sectoral approach to create demand for the Access to Information Law;
 Organization of 7 sectoral forums in Phnom Penh over the course per year.
3.3. PURPOSE OF THE FORUMS
Phnom Penh
Office
Year 1:
Year 2
Year 3:
Assessing
information needs of
each sector
Gathering
information needs of
each sector and
receiving feedback
on the Draft Law
Reporting back to
each sector on how
the TWG and the IC
have included their
feedback into the
Draft Law
3.4. INCREASING DEMAND FOR A2I FROM THE MEDIA SECTOR
Phnom Penh
Office
Journalist modules on Access to Information Law, investigative reporting and
code of ethics developed and published in English and Khmer
45 highly qualified and dedicated journalists better able to report on issues
of Access to Information, conduct investigative reporting and establish a
culture where requesting information is the norm
45 investigative reports published every year through an online platform
4. EXPECTED RESULT 3
Phnom Penh
Office
MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Citizens understand the concepts of Access to Information law and are in
better position to demand for the passage of the law
Citizens are able to critically reflect and contribute to the process of drafting
the law
Concepts of Access to Information mainstreamed among the general public
for social action
5. CONTACTS
Phnom Penh
Office
UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh
Ms. Jamie Hyo-Jin LEE
Information and Communication Programme Officer
Email: hj.lee@unesco.org
Tel: (078) 77 21 44
Ministry of Information
H.E. Saravuth HUY
Under-Secretary of State
Email: saravuth_huy@hotmail.fr
Tel: (011) 30 30 02