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All stakeholders in Cambodia jointly call for the adoption of Access to Information law soon
During the commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information in Phnom Penh on 28th September 2023, the Minister attached to the Prime Minister, H.E. Preap Kol said that "The 7th mandate government of Cambodia, under the leadership of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Prime Minister Hun Manet, is committed to strengthening the collaboration and partnership between the government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in order to achieve our Pentagonal Strategy. As a government official and on a personal level, I support the enactment of an access to information law. I am dedicated to working closely with relevant stakeholders and seeking guidance from Prime Minister Hun Manet in order to actively contribute to the progress and passing of this crucial legislation in the near future."
H.E. Preap Kol stated these at the closing of the seminar organized by over 20 civil society organizations with the support of UNESCO. The event gathered more than 200 participants from the Government of Cambodia, civil society, youth groups, organizations of persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities and development partners.
The event included speakers from different sectors of Cambodia’s society, who highlighted the great importance of access to public information for the development of the country. Mr Nop Vy, Executive Director of CamboJA spoke about the importance of freedom of information to facilitate the work of journalists in doing their work. Mr Travis Mitchell, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce underlined that the companies he represents, and the private sector in general want and need clear and transparent information, which will give them confidence and certainty to continue investing in the country. The young social media influencer, Ms. Hy Channny, made a call to improve access to information to allow young people to actively engage in the decisions that will affect the future of the youth. For Ms. Khuon Sophy, representing ethnic minorities, it is imperative to make information available to Cambodian people and to provide it also in minority languages. The Executive Director of the Advocacy and Policy Institute, Mr Lam Socheat, acknowledged the positive steps being taken by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in providing more information about the State Budget, and recommended that the draft Access to Information Law is passed as soon as possible to ensure that all public institutions are more transparent.
Building on UNESCO’s Declaration, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information, recognizing its role in development, democracy and equality. Every year around the world, UNESCO and its partners commemorate this day to encourage member states to adopt legislation and policies to improve citizen’s access to public information.
In her global message to commemorate this Day, Ms Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director General, said that this year the International Day “focuses on the challenges and opportunities of accessing information, including the role played by the Internet in this process. We must also work to ensure that all individuals are able to seek, receive and relay information, and engage in democratic processes. This means offering content that is diverse and available in multiple languages. It also means fostering skills such as media and information literacy so individuals can critically and effectively engage with content – another significant challenge in this digital age.” The Global Conference on Universal Access to Information 2023 took place in Oxford, UK on 28 September 2023, with panel discussions focusing on Internet accessibility and connectivity; the role of governments, judiciary and information commissioners in securing the proper functioning of internet as an enabler of the right to information and other human rights; as well as the need for international cooperation in the field of strengthening access to information for human rights and achievement of the Goals of Agenda 2030.
This initiative is part of UNESCO’s project “Strengthening Media Development and Freedom of Expression in Cambodia”, which is being implemented with support from the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency.
