The third meeting of the National
Management Board for the Cambodia Criminal Justice Assistance Project III
(CCJAP III) was held on 23 June 2008 at the Inter-Continental Hotel, Phnom Penh
and attended by the NMB Executive Members, Advisory Members, NMB secretariat,
Donors' Representatives from AusAID and DANIDA, and an Australian Federal
Police's representative. The meeting was chaired by HE Prum Sokha, Secretary of
State of the Ministry of Interior. The NMB meets bi-annually to review project
progress and consider future inputs and activities.
During the meeting the new First
Secretary for AusAID Ms. Arthi Patel was introduced. Ms. Patel takes over from
Ms. Katherine Mitchell, Second Secretary, who has been re-assigned.
The NMB was briefed on Project
progress since July 2007. The highlights of the previous 12 months activity
included the continuing development of strong partnerships between CCJAP staff
and institutional counterparts from police, prisons, courts and the Project
Management Unit at the Council of Ministers. Considerable effort has also gone
into the building of networks and relationships in the Provinces of Kandal,
Battambang, Prey Veng, Banteay Meanchay and Kampong Thom in preparation for the
Projects roll out to those areas in 2008 and 2009.
Of particular interest was the work of Project in assisting in the development of the Strategic Plan of the CNP. The
Mission, Vision and Values statements from the plan have now been adopted and
can be seen proudly displayed at the entrance to the new Police Headquarters
Building in Norodom Boulevard. Extensive training activity has also been
undertaken with the Scientific and Technical Department of the CNP. The
training involved upgrading of crime scene examination equipment and developing
greater capacity to investigate crimes of sexual violence.
The continuing development of
Cambodian Courts has remained a primary activity for CCJAP. Work continues on
rolling out the Model Court concept originally started in Kandal Province in
2003. The key focus of this development is on increasing access to justice,
both physically through court design, and administratively, though the
development of more user friendly and informative case management and listing
systems.
The current General Department of
Prisons reform program is being strongly supported by CCJAP through both
technical assistance and infrastructure development. The ongoing work with
prisoner health care has continued to be a Project focus and two major training
programs were delivered to support the expansion of the General Department of
Prison Health Posts.
The NMB was presented with the
Annual Works Plan (AWP) for 2008 and 2009. A key initiative of the AWP is
expanding the Project into 4 new Provinces; Battambang, Prey Veng, Banteay
Meanchay and Kampong Thom.
In 2008 and 2009 CCJAP will work
to assist the integration of crime prevention and community safety initiatives
into the Provincial Strategic Development Plan and Commune Development and
Investment Plans in the Security and Gender sector. This will include support
to strengthen the Commune Committee for Women and Children and development of
initiatives in accordance with the Civilian Protection Movement Directive.
The Project continues to
encourage and support the development of government systems into which it is
able to integrate its operations and management. The Project will also continue
to move from a support role to one of facilitation.
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