Phnom Penh Awarded WHO 'Urban Health Promotion' Prize for School Zone Safety Project

Phnom Penh City has been honored with the 2026 World Health Organization (WHO) award for "Urban Health Promotion," recognizing its successful project focused on traffic safety around schools. Under the coordination of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Phnom Penh shared its experiences alongside seven other cities. Ms. Do Samphors, Deputy Director of Administration for Phnom Penh City Hall and the project's operator, detailed the "School Zone Safety" initiative. Launched in 2025 with financial support from Vital Strategies through the Partnership for Healthy Cities, the project piloted at two schools: Hun Sen Chak Angre Primary and Secondary School and Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship School. These schools are located in busy traffic areas, posing significant risks. The project implemented five key measures: 1. Risk assessment of traffic safety around schools using the iRAP (International Road Assessment Programme) methodology. 2. Improvement of infrastructure and installation of modern support equipment, including traffic signs, smart speed limiters, and surveillance cameras. 3. Enhanced deployment of police and traffic agents during peak school hours to facilitate traffic flow and mitigate risks. 4. Raising awareness and knowledge of traffic safety regulations through training and public campaigns for students and the community. 5. Establishing a sustainable multi-stakeholder collaboration model to expand school zone safety efforts. Ms. Samphors further stated that in June 2026, the WHO announced its selection of candidate cities for its annual award, focusing on eight major themes related to improving urban health and safety. Phnom Penh submitted its school zone safety project and was chosen from over 150 cities in the Asia-Pacific region. The city received the award for "Safe, Active, and Healthy Transport: Promoting Health and Reducing Inequalities in Urban Mobility" through its "School Zone Safety Project." The award ceremony took place during the 11th Global Conference of the Partnership for Healthy Cities in Sydney, Australia. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local