Details

Background Information:

The support for the development of the legal system in Cambodia has been one of the main priorities of the work of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Cambodia for many years. One of the essential elements of such a process is a flourishing discussion between different generations and experts on legal topics. Such discussion has been difficult in Cambodia for many years due to its historical legacy and the legal vacuum during and in the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge regime. Legal discourse is therefore still not well developed in Cambodia today. It seems particularly important to cultivate a culture of legal discussion in the spirit of academic freedom, and the Law Talks were designed as one element of such support.

The Law Talks started in 2008, initially in formal cooperation mainly with the Senate, now, also with various law faculties. To date, nine law talks have been held.

For the 10th Law Talk event and the 20th anniversary of the Cambodian Constitution, KAS selected the topic “20 years of Cambodian Constitution – Moving towards the implementation of constitutional law?”

The present Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia is the sixth and latest version. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of representatives of the Cambodian People and promulgated by Norodom Sihanouk on 24 September 1993. It has since been amended seven times up until 2010. The constitution reflects modern constitutional characteristics – democracy, human rights and the rule of law; embedded in a constitutional monarchy system of parliamentary government guided by a strict separation of power.

The Law Talk does not aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current status of the implementation of Cambodian Constitutional Law but rather to discuss the status of certain constitutional rights under the current system of the separation of powers and checks and balances in Cambodia and to put the Constitution and its implementation in the regional and international perspective.

Objectives of the 10th Law Talk:

Promote increased understanding on the Cambodian Constitution and its implementation

Promote a better understanding on the current status of constitutional law reform in Cambodia