Cambodia Marks 33 Years Since Adoption of 1993 Constitution

PHNOM PENH, Sept 24, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia marked the 33rd anniversary of its Constitution on Thursday, with Acting Head of State Hun Sen describing the charter as the country’s supreme law. In a message on social media, Hun Sen congratulated citizens on Constitution Day, which commemorates the promulgation of the document on Sept 24, 1993. He said the Constitution remains the foundation of Cambodia’s legal system, requiring all laws and decisions by state institutions to comply with it. The Constitution was adopted following Cambodia’s first post‑conflict national election in May 1993, organised under the supervision of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). The vote followed the Paris Peace Agreements of October 1991, which sought to end decades of conflict and establish a framework for peace, reconciliation and democratic institutions. On Sept 24, 1993, King Norodom Sihanouk signed a Royal Kram at the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, formally promulgating the Constitution. The charter enshrines the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches, guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, and sets principles for the rule of law and the functioning of state institutions. Hun Sen said the anniversary marked the “birth” of Cambodia’s Constitution, which has guided the country for more than three decades. Officials noted that the constitutional process was central to Cambodia’s transition from civil war to democratic governance, with UNTAC overseeing the election and supporting the establishment of state institutions. The 1993 Constitution remains the legal cornerstone of the Kingdom, underpinning its political system and serving as a symbol of national reconciliation.