Cambodia and Japan Deepen Cooperation on Election Technology and Transparency

On September 18, 2026, the Kampong Thom Provincial Election Committee in Cambodia organized an educational session on "The Importance of Elections, the Use of Technology, and Combating Fake News in the Electoral Process." This event aimed to strengthen confidence and transparency in the democratic process within the digital era, targeting leaders and IT technical officials from various provincial departments and units. The ceremony was jointly presided over by key stakeholders and international development partners, including His Excellency Dim Sovannarom, a member of the National Election Committee (NEC) and head of the NEC's information reaction team, His Excellency Nuon Pharat, Governor of Kampong Thom Province, and Mr. Akitoshi Nagasawa Pati, Advisor and Researcher at the Japanese Embassy in Cambodia. The active participation of representatives from the Japanese Embassy in Cambodia clearly demonstrated the robust international cooperation and the Japanese government's continued support for election reforms, transparency enhancement, and democratic development in Cambodia. During the event, H.E. Dim Sovannarom provided in-depth remarks, comparing Cambodia with other international democracies. He noted that some nations positioning themselves as "fathers of democracy" still face significant disagreements and controversies regarding voter list preparation. In contrast, Cambodia has demonstrated true political maturity and self-reliance by adhering to the Constitution and existing laws. He highlighted that since 2018, through its own experience in organizing elections, Cambodia has built a voter list that is accurate, up-to-date, clear, and highly transparent, earning recognition and trust from all relevant parties. Concurrently, H.E. Nuon Pharat, Governor of Kampong Thom Province, addressed the challenge of fake news, which is threatening society and the electoral process. He urged IT technical officials and leaders from various departments to enhance their understanding and capabilities in utilizing modern technology. The goal is for them to become frontline forces in monitoring, analyzing, and responding to false information in a timely manner, thereby protecting the integrity of the information space and maintaining public security and confidence in the democratic process. Drawing on over 30 years of experience in the information field, H.E. Dim Sovannarom shared that to combat fake news and untruthful narratives, the only option is to use tangible realities to counter abstract falsehoods. This collaboration between the NEC, Kampong Thom Provincial Administration, and the Japanese Embassy represents a significant strategic step in transforming technology into a "tool for strengthening democracy" and ensuring that all election services and processes are conducted freely, accurately, and justly. H.E. Dim Sovannarom further mentioned that the NEC is a member of RECEF (Network of Electoral Institutions of French-speaking Countries) and A-WEB (Association of World Election Bodies). He has been invited and selected among 16 participating countries to observe the election in Quebec on Monday, October 5, 2026. He will also attend a meeting in the Philippines in mid-October, where election management bodies and major organizations from over one hundred countries will convene in Manila to discuss lessons learned and A-WEB's work on global democratic processes. This signifies Cambodia's equal participation within regional (RECEF) and global (A-WEB) frameworks. Source: CPP Cambodia