Background
The Ministry of Justice serves as the central government authority responsible for coordinating legal reform and judicial policy related to juvenile justice in Cambodia.
UNICEF maintains a resident representative in Cambodia who engages with national ministries on child-rights legislation and implementation support.
On 6 October 2026, His Excellency Keat Rith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, received Ms. Maha Damaj, the newly appointed UNICEF Representative to Cambodia, for a courtesy visit and policy discussion at the Ministry of Justice headquarters. The meeting covered cooperation on implementing the law on juvenile justice, a draft child-protection law addressing protection of minors in marriage and establishment of specialized juvenile courts, and aspects of the complaint procedure under Optional Protocol 3 related to child rights.
Scope of Application
The discussions concern national legal instruments and institutional arrangements that apply across Cambodia’s justice sector, including legislative drafting, court specialization for juvenile cases, and inter-agency coordination with international partners for child-protection programming.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Officials reviewed three primary areas of cooperation: implementation measures for the juvenile-justice law; provisions in the draft child-protection law, notably protections for minors in marriage and the creation of specialist juvenile courts; and procedural aspects tied to Optional Protocol 3 (complaint mechanism) relevant to child rights.
Both parties agreed to continue close cooperation and to establish coordination mechanisms aimed at preventing and reducing detention of juvenile offenders while safeguarding the best interests of children in legal proceedings.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Legal-service providers, child-focused NGOs, and institutions interacting with the juvenile justice system will need to track legislative changes and any resulting procedural rules for cases involving minors. Compliance obligations for organizations working with children may change as the draft law and court specializations are finalized and implemented.
Official Source
Announcement published by the Ministry of Justice social media office, 6 October 2026: Ministry of Justice Facebook post.
