The Parliamentary Centre in Cambodia

The Famous Cambodian Smile

Since the early 1990s, Canada has made efforts to support a sustainable transition to democratic government in Cambodia. In March 2000, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) sent a planning mission to Cambodia in order to develop a framework for a long-term governance project. Subsequent to this mission, the Parliamentary Centre was chosen by CIDA as the Canadian Executing Agency for the Cambodia-Canada Legislative Support Project (CCLSP).

The main objective of the CCLSP is to contribute to good governance and democratic development in Cambodia through capacity development of the National Assembly and the Senate. The three outcomes of the project include:

• Enhanced capacity of the National Assembly, the Senate and their Commissions to draft and review legislation;
• Increased responsiveness of MPs to constituents;
• Improved capacity of the Secretariats to support the National Assembly and Senate.

The project hopes to achieve these outcomes through the use of methods that encourage local ownership and sustainability.

Synopsis of Project Activities to Date

• A Successful First Year
• Working Within the Confines of Political Impasse - Year Two

Market in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Human Resources Management Workshop - December 2-8, 2003

In December 2004, Suzanne Paradis, Director of the Human Resources Directorate at the Canadian House of Commons, undertook a visit to Phnom Penh to hold a workshop on human resources management. The program was designed to help the senior managers of the Secretariats of the National Assembly and Senate of Cambodia to gain a better understanding of proven human resources management principles and to develop the competency to adapt and apply these principles to their reality. This activity follows work previously done with the managers and staff of the Secretariats.
Full Report

Human Resources Workshop, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Participants of the Human Resources Workshop, December 2003

Domestic Violence Workshop - January 26-30, 2004

In January 2004, Professor William A. W. Neilson and Ms Helen Lansdowne, Director and Assistant Director, respectively, of the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI) delivered a workshop in Phnom Penh on the topic of domestic violence legislation. The participants included 20 legal researchers of the Secretariats of the National Assembly and Senate of Cambodia. The main objective of the workshop was to improve the researchers' understanding of the social and legal context of domestic violence in Cambodia, the legislative models for preventing domestic violence, and comparing the Cambodian legislative experience with experience in a number of other Asian states.
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Cambodia-Canada Legislative Support Project (CCLSP) - Upcoming Activities

The Rule of Law Norms Guidelines

The Rule of Law Norms Guidelines for Cambodian Legislators was prepared by William A.W. Neilson, Director of the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives. The Guidelines were accepted by the First Presidents' Forum in Phnom Penh on June 4, 2002. The purpose of the Guidelines is to provide Honourable Members of the National Assembly and Senators and legislation-related staff of their respective Secretariats with essential background materials on the meaning of the Rule of Law and the application of its principles to their legislative review, lawmaking and law supervision responsibilities.
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