Cambodia adopts law on prison management

Cambodia's National Assembly adopted law on prison management on Monday aiming to better manage all prisons in the country and to better rehabilitate and integrate prisoners once they return to society. The law which has 11 chapters and 85 articles was approved by 94 out of 96 lawmakers who were present at the parliamentary session. The law is aimed at managing prisons across the country, educating and rehabilitating prisoners and integrating them into society as well as preventing the repetition of the crimes. The law is also aimed at ensuring that prisoners are protected with full security, safety, health, and humanity in accordance with the international principles and conventions as set forced by the United Nations. Sar Kheng, deputy prime minister and minister of interior said at the end of the session that "the law will be implemented well in order to strengthen the management of our society better." According to the law, Ministry of Interior who is supervising all prisons in the country is allowed to sign contracts or agreements with private companies, national and international organizations to create jobs or work for prisoners through the form of industry, agriculture or handicraft and products produced by prisoners will be sold to the markets. Sar Kheng said vocational and on job training will profit prisoners in specific skills especially after they had left prisons. The law will be submitted to the Senate and for promulgation by the king by the end of this year. The law covers all prisoners across the country except military prisons or other detention facilities handled by justice police that are separately covered by other laws. Currently, Cambodia has 15,347 prisoners in 28 prisons nationwide.