Background
The Ministry of Justice is the lead national authority responsible for drafting and coordinating legislation and code amendments affecting civil law and court procedures. Phase 7 of the law and justice sector development project centers on amendments to the civil procedure code and the civil code, together with capacity development for legal professionals and courts, under technical cooperation with the Government of Japan and JICA.
The Justice Ministry presented the Phase 7 proposal at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) headquarters on 2 July 2026, with Minister Jein Malin and Secretary of State Keng Somarith among the attendees; JICA and CDC agreed to select the Ministry-requested Phase 7 project for a five-year cooperation period to pursue technical support from the Government of Japan for fiscal year 2027. JICA has supported prior phases of the law and justice sector development project from Phase 1 through Phase 6 over more than 20 years, including work on the civil code and civil procedure code and training for Cambodian legal practitioners.
Scope of Application
The Phase 7 program targets statutory instruments governing civil disputes and court procedure by focusing on the civil code and the civil procedure code as applied across Cambodia’s court system. The project scope includes legal drafting, consultative review, and capacity development activities for judicial and legal-service personnel over the proposed five-year timeframe.
Key Provisions or Decisions
• The Ministry of Justice formally proposed Phase 7 to continue a long-term law and justice sector development partnership with JICA and the Government of Japan.
• The project is described as combining legal reform (amendments to the civil code and civil procedure code) with professional capacity development for judges, prosecutors, and legal practitioners.
• CDC (Council for the Development of Cambodia), JICA and the Ministry agreed in principle to pursue technical cooperation and support beginning in fiscal year 2027, and to implement Phase 7 over a five-year period.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Amendments to the civil code and the civil procedure code establish or modify statutory rules that govern civil disputes, contract enforcement, and court procedures. Businesses and legal practitioners engaged in civil litigation or contract enforcement should monitor the Ministry’s drafting and consultation timetable because changes to civil statutory rules can affect dispute resolution pathways and compliance obligations under Cambodian law.
Official Source
Ministry of Justice (Facebook post), 2 July 2026: “Announcement of Phase 7 of the law and justice sector development project” — https://www.facebook.com/mojcambodia/posts/pfbid02enYmtQXJX1a8xVu6fP3nFZvaEX1LYsEfKsbpAxQCpWXEdAXzuKLHsJsdAbWAZriDl
