"First Civil Society Day event attended by some 300 groups", 20 March 2019

Cambodia’s first Civil Society Day was held …, with at least 300 members of civil society groups in attendance … for the event.

Held under the theme Inclusive Partnership for Democratic and Sustainable Development, the day is intended to enable civil society groups to share their experiences.

The Ministry of Interior will also conduct a census of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations … to gather accurate figures as to their numbers.

Sin Putheary, head of communications and member development at the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC) … said the aim is for Civil Society Day to be an annual forum for groups to come together to discuss good governance and human rights protection.

“The forum is also for responding to developmental trends and strengthening cooperation among partner civil society organisations and the government,” she said.

Ministry figures show that 5,386 groups – of which 2,135 are NGOs – and 3,251 associations have registered in Cambodia since 1993. Of these, only around 2,000 fulfilled their 2016-17 obligations.

Bun Hun, Ministry of Interior secretary of state, … said that only 499 organisations and associations had provided financial reports and yearly planning to the ministry, even though it has twice spoken on the matter.

Hun said the ministry had agreed with the CCC to carry out the census of associations and NGOs that have submitted documents and registered with the ministry. The census was intended to again review the number of civil society groups operating in Cambodia…