Unofficial Translation

DPM H. E. Dr. Sok An Meets with Chairman of the National Human Rights Consultation of Australia

H.E. Mr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Bede Corry, the newly-accredited Ambassador of New Zealand to Cambodia on November 16, 2009 at the Office of the Council of Ministers.

H.E. Dr. Sok An,  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers met Dr. Frank Brennan, Chairman of the National Human Rights Consultation of Australia on November 13, 2009.

Dr. Frank Brennan informed the Deputy Prime Minister that his organization provides consultation service to the Australian government concerning justice system and also provides consultation service to the Australian parliament in law drafting process. This is due to the way that laws in Australia must be drafted in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That is why his organization has always been asked to provide consultation on the human rights aspect in law drafting. He continued that the successful implementation of justice system needs two key points: transparency and efficiency. In order to ensure these two points, there have to be reform on three main areas: structure, human resource and implementation of rules of law.

In response, H.E. Dr. Sok An expressed his sincere thanks to Dr. Frank Brennan for the explanation of his organization’s work as well as for his view on how to improve justice system. The Deputy Prime Minister also informed Dr. Frank Brennan that the Royal Government of Cambodia has paid particular attention to and already worked on the reforms as having been raised by the chairman. For instance, there have been recruitment of judges and prosecutors who are professionally qualified to work in the court system, and there have been three batches of Professional Training of Judges already. The implementation of rules of law has been improved because of the development of human resource.

On that occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the success of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, which can be recognized as international and national model. It should be noted that H.E. Dr. Sok An and Dr. Frank Brennan share the same view that the judicial reform is very time-consuming, which is normal.

(Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers)