Minister of Information of Cambodia H.E. Khieu Kanharith has emphasised the importance of access to information on the occasion of the 2021 International Day for Universal Access to Information.

“For Cambodia, especially the Royal Government of Cambodia, the right to Universal Access to Information is an indispensable right in a democratic society,” he said in his remarks. “Having access to accurate and reliable information enables greater participation, allows citizens to make informed choices like when they cast their vote in elections, and makes it possible to monitor/verify the government’s policies.”

H.E. Minister also mentioned about the draft law on access to information, stressing that the drafting process has been completed and the ministry is currently waiting for the final endorsement from the Ministry of Justice before submitting it to the National Assembly.

“After the law is enforced in Cambodia, I hope that Cambodian citizens will receive accurate and reliable information to make better-informed decisions,” he added.

Today, UNESCO, the Ministry of Information, and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, the Department of Media and Communication at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, and civil society organisations, are commemorating the 2021 International Day of Universal Access to Information in Cambodia.

The theme chosen for the 2021 International Day for Universal Access to Information celebrated yearly on Sept. 28 is “The Right to Know – Building Back Better with Access to Information.” It will highlight the fact that the public’s need for accurate and reliable information has never been stronger than now, as the countries are struggling to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild communities and institutions.