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NGO Statement, 2000 Consultative Group Meeting On Cambodia


 GOOD GOVERNANCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS


NGO Statement to the 2000 Consultative Group Meeting on Cambodia

- Home.................................
- About us.............................
- Message.............................

- Introduction........................
- Progress.............................
- Good Governance................
- Human Resource 
- Development
......................
- Reaching the Poor...............
- Conclusion..........................

Sectoral Papers..................

- Agriculture..........................
- Child’s Rights....................
- Commune Administration 
- and Decentralization
............
- Commune Elections..........
- Disability and Rehabilitation..
- Education............................
- Fisheries.............................
- Forestry Reform..................
- Gender and Development.....
- Good Governance............. 
- Health................................
- HIV/AIDS...........................
- Human Rights......................
- Landmines..........................
- Land Reform.......................
- Microfinance........................
- Weapons Reduction.............

General NGO Information...

References.........................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


INTRODUCTION

Since the early 1990s Cambodia has transformed from a socialist system to a multi-party democracy. Today Cambodia is recognized as a country with freedom of expression, freedom of press, and the freedom to form associations and political parties. The government is making real efforts to bring efficient, democratic reforms to the system of administration. Notwithstanding achievements made, there are still many obstacles to the efficient implementation of the principle of good governance and transparency. 

The concept of good governance is broadly characterized by transparency, responsibility, public participation, adherence to the rule of law and cooperation between government and civil society. 

KEY ISSUES

  • Lack of respect for the law
    The weakness of Cambodian democracy is reflected in the lack of respect for the law, and the fact that the administration of society is still based upon the system of patronage.

  • Weak public administration
    Good governance relates to the efficient management of public resources. In the context of Cambodia the government's ability to effectively manage public resources is constrained by a weak public administration. The civil service is overstaffed, and there is a low level of technical and managerial capacity. 

  • Absence of transparency
    The absence of transparency leads to inequitable allocation of resources, injustice, and an ineffective rule of law that encourages corrupt practices.

  • Corruption
    The issue of corruption is closely linked to the absence of transparency. Corruption exists at all levels in Cambodian society despite government policies and measures to combat, contain and reduce it. The major impediment to reducing corruption is the incomplete implementation of good governance and transparency in Cambodia. A national survey on Public Attitudes Towards Corruption was conducted between January and May 1998. The Corruption Survey reported that 84 percent of the 1,513 survey participants agree that corruption is the norm in Cambodia, 91 percent believe that it is harming the nation, and 98 percent would like it stopped as soon as possible. 

RECOMMENDATIONS

To promote good governance, NGOs recommend that the Royal Government of Cambodia and the donor community:

  • Encourage public participation in state affairs
    Conditions should be encouraged for people to discuss and debate issues of public importance. Three public forums were recently organized by a NGO on the trial of the Khmer Rouge and National Reconciliation in Battambang, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

  • Promote freedom of expression and freedom of the press
    Encouraging the voices of the people and the media are prerequisites for transparency and accountability.

  • Promote the passage of anti-corruption legislation
    Recent efforts to pass anti-corruption legislation have involved a collaborative approach between NGOs and the government. Civil society actors have worked closely with the Ministry of Parliamentary Relations and Inspection on draft laws, and the Jurist Council invited NGOs to comment upon draft legislation. We welcome the engagement of civil society actors in the process of reviewing and commenting upon draft legislation and hope this process will continue. We urge the government and donors to take a holistic approach in their anti-corruption efforts.

  • Develop education programs to raise public awareness 
    Create training programs that help people to understand the concept of legitimacy of government, the nature of public affairs and the responsibility of government to the public. 

  • Disseminate information
    Transparency is build upon the free flow of information. An important factor for transparency in society is the dissemination of accurate information. For the effective provision of information the government should promote the publication and distribution of all draft budgets with projected taxes, income, revenue and public expenses, and publicize the mandates, rules and procedures of all executive institutions.

  • Strengthen existing democratic institutions
    Encourage existing democratic institutions to function properly according to their mandates. The Supreme Council of Magistracy should assume its proper role and the Constitutional Council should be provided with the necessary resources to fulfill its functions.

  • Act as models of transparency and accountability
    It is often too easy to blame Cambodian officials and institutions and accuse them of corruption. The more difficult task is for those very organizations, that provide the means and funds by which Cambodian institutions and officials may be corrupted, to lead by example. NGOs remind international lending institutions that any loans must be approved pursuant to Article 90 of the Constitution, and ratified by the National Assembly.


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