Working Towards an Access to Information Law in Cambodia: Bridging the Government and Citizens for Participatory Law-Making

Phnom Penh Office 1.1. UNESCO’ S WORK ON A2I ALL OVER THE WORLD

Phnom Penh Office 1.2. A2I L EGISLATION BACKGROUND IN C AMBODIA 1 st draft on Access to Information law 2 nd draft on Access to Information law Draft Policy Framework with the technical assistance from USAID and Pact 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

Phnom Penh Office 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 1.3. E XPECTED OUTCOMES

Phnom Penh Office A2I Draft Law ________ ________ ________  R EVISIONS ON DRAFT  T ECHNICAL W ORKING G ROUP R ECOMMENDATION PAPERS  S ECTORAL FORUMS  C OMMUNITY 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. O VERVIEW

Phnom Penh Office I NTER - MINISTERIAL C OMMITTEE A2I Final Law ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ M EDIA C AMPAIGN 1.4. O VERVIEW

Phnom Penh Office M INISTRIES M INISTRY OF JUSTICE UN A GENCIES UNESCO OHCHR CSO S C AMBODIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION COMMITTEE (CHRAC) C LUB OF C AMBODIAN J OURNALISTS (CCJ) C AMBODIAN CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA (CCIM) A DVOCACY AND P OLICY I NSTITUTE (API) M INISTRY OF INFORMATION C HAIR M INISTRY OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - SENATE RELATIONS AND INSPECTION 2.1. C OMPOSITION OF THE T ECHNICAL W ORKING G ROUP D EPARTMENT OF M EDIA AND C OMMUNICATION C OUNCIL OF J URISTS

Phnom Penh Office C OUNCIL OF MINISTERS M INISTRY OF INTERIOR M INISTRY OF CULTURE AND FINE ARTS M INISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE M INISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES M INISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION M INISTRY OF COMMERCE M INISTRY OF ECONOMY AND FINANCE M INISTRY OF HEALTH M INISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT M INISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND HANDICRAFT M INISTRY OF JUSTICE M INISTRY OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS M INISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND SPORT N ATIONAL BANK OF C AMBODIA M INISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY M INISTRY OF LABOR AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING M INISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS, VETERANS AND YOUTH REHABILITATION M INISTRY OF WOMEN ’ S AFFAIRS C OUNCIL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF C AMBODIA M INISTRY OF INFORMATION C HAIR 2.2. C OMPOSITION OF THE I NTER - MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE

Phnom Penh Office T ECHNICAL W ORKING G ROUP I NTER - MINISTERIAL C OMMITTEE  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.  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. E XPECTED RESULT 1: E STABLISHING A TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP AND AN INTER - MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE

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 TWG AND IC T RAININGS

Phnom Penh Office Production of 36 recommendation papers 3. E XPECTED RESULT 2: P ARTICIPATORY L AW -M AKING AND I NCREASING D EMAND FOR A CCESS TO I NFORMATION S ECTORAL F ORUMS C OMMUNITY F ORUMS

Phnom Penh Office 1 st Region Phnom Penh Kandal Prey Veng Svay Rieng Takeo Kampong Cham 5 th Region Siem Reap Preah Vihear Oddar Meanchey Kampong Thom 4 th Region Kratie Stung Treng RattanakiriMondulkiri Tbong Khmum 3 rd region Kampong Som Koh Kong KampotKep Kampong Speu 2 nd Region Battambang Banteay Meanchey PailinPursat Kampong Chhnang Under the project, community forums will be organized in 5 geographical regions over the course of 3 years (total 15 community forums) C OMMUNITY FORUMS

Phnom Penh Office  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. Y OUTH H EALTH E DUCATION W OMEN H UMAN R IGHTS E NVIRONMENT /A GRICULTURE M EDIA 3.2. S ECTORAL FORUMS

Phnom Penh Office Year 1: Assessing information needs of each sector Year 2 Gathering information needs of each sector and receiving feedback on the Draft Law Year 3: Reporting back to each sector on how the TWG and the IC have included their feedback into the Draft Law 3.3. P URPOSE OF THE FORUMS

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 3.4. I NCREASING DEMAND FOR A2I FROM THE MEDIA SECTOR

Phnom Penh Office 4. E XPECTED RESULT 3 M EDIA C AMPAIGN 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

Phnom Penh Office UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh Ms. Jamie Hyo-Jin LEE Information and Communication Programme Officer Tel: (078) C ONTACTS Ministry of Information H.E. Saravuth HUY Under-Secretary of State Tel: (011)