Cambodia's National Assembly to Review Four Draft Laws on Justice and International Cooperation

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 4, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s National Assembly is poised to deliberate on four significant draft laws aimed at bolstering its justice system and enhancing international cooperation. These include amendments to the Law on the Statute of Lawyers, approval of the Cebu Protocol amending the ASEAN Charter, a convention on the privileges and immunities of the Secretariat, staff, and representatives of member states of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and an agreement with the Russian Federation concerning the mutual protection of citizens in the field of international criminal justice. The draft laws were discussed by the National Assembly's Standing Committee and subsequently referred to specialized commissions for in-depth study. The Commission on Legislation and Justice will examine the proposed amendments to the Law on the Statute of Lawyers, while the Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Information, in conjunction with the justice commission, will review the protocols related to the ASEAN Charter, the CICA convention, and the criminal justice cooperation agreement with Russia. Following the preparation of reports by these specialized commissions, the draft laws will proceed to the National Assembly for full debate and voting. Additionally, the Standing Committee has approved the National Assembly’s proposed expenditure plan for 2027. This plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for incorporation into the national budget, in accordance with the Law on the Public Financial System. The legislative agenda signals Cambodia's commitment to modernizing its legal framework and strengthening its engagement with the international community.